Trade unions in Botswana

Infobox Union by Country
country = Botswana
national = BFTU
government = Ministry of Labour
legislation = Trade Disputes Act [cite web
title=Trade Disputes Act
work=Government Gazette
url=http://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/SERIAL/67388/64165/F1929200618/BWA67388.pdf
accessdate=2007-08-07]
membership_number =
union_percentage1_title =
union_percentage1 =
union_percentage2_title =
union_percentage2 =
ILOmember = Yes
ILO-87date = 22 December 1997
ILO-98date = 22 December 1997

Trade unions in Botswana operate within a longstanding democratic system in which the government of Botswana has ratified the International Labour Organization's core conventions, including Conventions 87 (Freedom of Association) and 98 (Right to Organize).

With the exception of members of the Botswana Defence Force, Botswana Police Service, Local Police, and Prison Service, [cite web
title=Trade Unions and Employers' Organisations (Amendment) Act, 2003 - Act No. 16 of 2004.
work=NATLEX (International Labour Organization)
url=http://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/natlex_browse.details?p_lang=en&p_country=BWA&p_classification=02&p_origin=SUBJECT
accessdate=2007-08-07] all workers have the right to join unions. However, in practice trade unions complain of difficulties in operating unfettered. [cite web
title=Slow progress in Botswana's labour rights
work=afrol News
url=http://www.afrol.com/articles/12873
accessdate=2007-08-12] The 2004 Trade Disputes Act is seen by unions as "employer-favoured" [cite web
title=Botswana (2006)
work=ICFTU Annual Survey of Violations of trade union rights
url=http://www.icftu.org/displaydocument.asp?Index=991223890&Language=EN
accessdate=2007-07-31] and requires submitting grievances to a complex procedure which, it is claimed, invariably results in strike action being declared illegal.

History

Formed in 1948, the Francistown African Employees' Union (FAEU), led by G. M. K. Mmusi was the first trade union in Botswana. It existed until 1970, although only being recognised by the Bechuanaland Protectorate in 1964. The Bechuanaland Protectorate Union, led by Lenyeletse Seretse, was formed in 1959, and in 1962 the Bechuanaland Trade Union Congress (BTUC) was established, with Klaas K. Motshidisi as general secretary. The BTUC, which was allied with the Bechuanaland People's Party, foundered three years later, in 1965; and after independence in 1966, with the help of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (now ITUC), trade unions in Botswana formed the Bechuanaland Federation of Labour.cite book
year = 2005
title = Trade Unions of the World
editor = ICTUR et al,
edition = 6th
publisher = John Harper Publishing
location = London, UK
id = ISBN 0-9543811-5-7]

In the 1970s the Botswana Trade Union and Education Centre was created, and it was replaced in 1977 by the current national trade union centre, the Botswana Federation of Trade Unions (BFTU).

Present day

The BFTU is still the sole national trade union centre in Botswana. Most unions are organized at the enterprise level, with few resources available for cross-enterprise structures such as industrial or craft unionism. [Citation
title =Policy position paper on globalization – 2007
journal =Botswana Federation of Trade Unions
volume =
issue =
pages =p. 25
date =
year =
url =http://www.fes.org.bw/Downloads/BFTU%20Globalization%202007.pdf
doi =
id = ]

The government of Botswana appears to take a pragmatic approach to trade unions, arguing that they should be formed in order to encourage fair labour practices, facilitate education of workers, and reduce conflicts between individual employees and employers. [cite web
title=Botswana: 'Gus' Explains Govt Stand On Trade Unions
work=Mmegi
url=http://www.mmegi.bw/2007/July/Wednesday11/2.php
accessdate=2007-08-12]

References