No raise no learning

Oleosi Kgosi
ON STRIKE : UB staff

UB staff strike disrupts classes

The ongoing University of Botswana Staff Union (UBSU) and University of Botswana Academic and Support Staff (UBASSU) strike for salary equality has brought classes at the institution of higher learning to a standstill.

Industrial action by the two unions began on Monday the 6th with lecturers abandoning classrooms for protest songs on campus and is expected to last until Friday the 10th with a march on the streets for protestors to register their grievances.

According to the President of UBSU, Gadzani Mhotsha, the strike aims to send a strong message about the urgent need for salary equality, high inflation, and arrears in adjustment as they demand a 15% salary increment for 2022/23 and a 5% salary increment for 2023/24, as well as other adjustments, such as leave days.

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The two unions highlighted that the government has adjusted public servants ‘s salaries from 2018 – 2022 to compensate for rising inflation, while UB has only had two salary adjustments in 2017/18 causing UB to lag behind inflation by a cumulative 27% and behind the government by 16%.

The effects of this are many-fold, as wages of UB employees have tremendously eroded which puts pressure on household grappling with the high cost of living, the union bosses have argued.

Furthermore, UBSU and UBASSU leaders pointed out that in many faculties student numbers have increased dramatically, while staff positions have remained the same.

UBSU president further pointed out that UB has contributed far more to human resource development in the country than other tertiary education institutions in Botswana and yet the newer institutions are not only offering more attractive remunerations to their staff but have also been granted salary adjustments by Government while UB is left out.

The two unions however noted that it was unfortunate that under its current leadership, UB has disintegrated and ceased to play a positive role in development and progress and the situation has forced staff to embark on a joint strike, which was prompted after all avenues of dialogue, negotiations, and arbitration have been exhausted without results.

“The strike is going well thus far but our main challenge is the unfavourable weather as it is raining,” said Mhotsha adding that the turnout is satisfactory.

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