Stop the retrenchments - BFTU, BOPEU

Botswana Federation of Trade Unions (BFTU) and Botswana Public Employees Union (BOPEU) want the government to halt the looming retrenchment at the troubled BCL mine.

They made the call over the weekend during the May Day celebration at Tsholofelo Park in Gaborone.The duo made the call while presenting a petition to Vice President, Mokgweetsi Masisi which was received by assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration Philip Makgalemele. “Should the BCL mine intentions be realised there is a great potential that we will witness an unprecedented suffering in the town of Selebi Phikwe,” reads the petition.

Accepting the petition on behalf of Masisi, Makgalemele told the gathering that the VP was absent because of health reasons. The petitioners said they are disturbed by the way things seem to be turning out at BCL Mine. “Whereas we do not doubt the ability of the Minister to address issues put before him by the union, we believe that it is also our responsibility to raise this matter to the level of the Presidency.”

Last month Botswana Mine Workers Union (BMWU) also presented a petition to the Minister of Mineral Energy and Water Resources, Kitso Mokaila over looming retrenchments. BCL has announced that it will be retrenching close to 2000 workers. BFTU and BOPEU also said that it’s surprising that the mine is about to retrench workers even though in the last sitting of Parliament a bill requesting funding for the mine was approved. “Our view is that these retrenchments can be avoided and their continuation is not in the best interest of the nation,” reads the petition.

Meanwhile Botswana Federation of Public Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU) commemorated workers’ day at Selibe Phikwe to offer solidarity to mine workers who are not sure about their future at the moment at the troubled mine. The day was held under the theme, Celebrating Achievements of Workers’ Struggles in the wake of 50th Anniversary of Independence.