On a Saturday filled with activism and community engagement, unions in Botswana launched a powerful nationwide campaign against the exclusion of certain trade unions from the Public Service Bargaining Council (PSBC). The event was held at Bontleng Mall in Gaborone, with a lively stage decorated with banners and GabZ FM’s outside broadcasting team live on site, bringing the message to a broader audience.
The launch saw leaders from TAWU, BOGOWU, and the Botswana Doctors’ Union (BDU) explaining how recent legislative changes threaten their rights. Speakers highlighted that Emergency Bill No. 34 of 2024, published after the new government took office, introduced the principle of majoritarianism—meaning only unions with a majority membership would be recognized for bargaining rights—and excluded smaller unions like theirs.
Cde Allan Keitseng of TAWU criticized the process behind the amendments, asserting that they were secretive and driven by false information, including claims made during parliamentary debates about union membership numbers, which he dismissed as “demonstrably false.” Cde Kaboda Phillip emphasized that denying union rights based on membership size is undemocratic and unfair, underscoring that professional groups like university professors and medical doctors—who typically have smaller memberships—are unfairly marginalized.
The campaign’s core message is that all workers, regardless of union size, deserve equal bargaining rights. Cde Phillip invoked a Setswana proverb to stress their determination: “moseka phofu ya gaabo ga a tshabe go swa lentswe,” meaning they will fight fearlessly to reclaim what is rightfully theirs— seats at the PSBC.
Partnering with GabZ FM, which streamed and archived the event on its Facebook page, the unions also participated in live radio interviews, spreading their message far and wide. Cde Keitseng announced that this campaign will continue across other parts of the country, aiming to unite workers and protect their rights now and in the future.
