Gov’t, unions end the bickering

Government and the three unions with nurses in their membership have finally ended the bickering. The parties have reached an agreement to consult over matters relating to the preparations of the annual Nurses’ Day and Awards.

This comes after the Botswana Land Boards Local Authorities Workers Union (BLLAWU), the Botswana Public Employees Union (BOPEU), and the National Amalgamated Central, Local and Parastatal Manual Workers’ Union approached the court to interdict Nurses’ Day celebrations for lack of inclusive involvement a fortnight ago.

The three unions had taken the Directorate of Public Service Management, the Ministry of Health, the Attorney General, and the Botswana Nurses Union (BONU) to task arguing that they were not consulted during the preparations for the day.

However, the parties have since settled the matter and agreed to consult on the preparations for the day and any other consultative matters. In a consented agreement by both parties, in which Lobatse High Court’s Justice Reuben Lekorwe made a final order of the court, the three unions will also abandon the review application that they intended to launch.

The matter has stained the relationship with BONU, the nurses’ union, threatening to quit the Botswana Federation of Public Private and Parastatal Sector Unions. Meanwhile, the three unions said they have been vindicated after the employer conceded to their legitimate demands.

“The matter has now been settled in accordance with what the three unions have always humbly requested for to no avail,” read a joint statement by the three unions.

The three unions said they will work cordially with the Ministry of Health and BONU for a more improved and spectacular version of the Nurses’ Day and Awards, to drive the dignity of the nursing cadre who play a critical role in the economy.

The unions reiterated that they stand for better welfare and service conditions for nurses as they are currently facing many difficulties in the workplace.

“We preach unity of the working class that workers and trade unions must be united for their agenda is one. Union leaders must rise to unite the working class for the realisation of workers’ victories.” Court ordered parties to each pay their costs.