Air Botswana appeals order to pay Union P27m owed to staff

Air Botswana management has appealed a High Court order to pay Air Botswana Employers Union (ABEU) members P27 million accrued through salary gap arrears in a move that the Union describes as yet another delaying tactic.

Justice Michael Leburu’s order of June 2020 ordered the management of the financially embattled national airline to pay its members P27 million within three months, which expired on 28th August 2020, the same day in which the management filed an application for stay of execution.

However, ABEU through their attorneys - Onalenna Kambai of Kambai Attorneys - countered by choosing not to oppose the application for stay.

The application will probably be heard sometime in November or December 2020 and ruling heard in January 2021.

ABEU attorney Kambai told this publication that they have not filed any opposition so that the substantive appeal can be heard as quickly as possible. “We are currently processing the records and are yet to meet with Air Botswana attorneys of record. In fact, we have agreed to have a meeting as attorneys where we will iron out all outstanding matters as well as sort out issues of security costs”.

Air Botswana Employers Union (ABEU) took the management to court over its refusal to pay employees a salary hike of 27 percent offered by the Board following recommendation by experts. The board reached its decision after a recommendation made by the AB management. Justice Michael Leburu found Air Botswana management to have been acting in Mala fades when negotiating with the airline Union and acting against a court order on the payment of their salary increment which would have been affected years back.