BOPEU forfeits CAAB salary talks

Demands that Govt. bails out the aviation regulator

The Botswana Public Empl oyees Union ( BOPEU) has decided to forgo Civil Aviation Authority Botswana ( CAAB) salary talks due to the parastatal’s financial challenges.

BOPEU President Ol e f ile Monakwe expressed with sheer regret this week that at a point where the union was hoping to see government and the management of CAAB upholding with greater heights the preservation of the workers’ rights and welfare, they have rather seen a creeping and unfortunate turn of events at CAAB.

CAAB asked for the postponement of June salaries for workers this year citing lack of finances. They also proposed salary cuts for the month of July and onwards as the entity was grappling with the effects of COVID- 19.

At the time BOPEU has demanded to be furnished with documents which support the proposal. There has been loss of revenue since the COVID- 19 outbreak and movement of flights was cancelled as there were no sky payments to the authority.

Monakwe stated this week that BOPEU is a bargaining agent duly recognised in terms of the Trade Union and Employers Organisation Act and has a binding Collective Labour Agreement ( CLA) that governs the parties’ relationship in de a l ing wi t h employment conditions of members at CAAB.

“On or about 15th June 2020, CAAB management invited the union to a meeting and two issues were to be discussed being employees’ salary cuts and the postponement of salary pay day.

“The union, amazed by the contents of the agenda, made a conscious decision and made it clear to management that the issues presented were contractual in nature and needed to be addressed in accordance with the legislation, policies and procedures that govern the employment relationship.

“T h e r e a s o n adv anc ed by the employer to back her position was that the

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