Dear comrades, We would like to give you an update on the ongoing public sector strike.

The strike is its 4th week now. The 4th week After the initial 10 days of the strike workers voted overwhelmingly for the continuation of the strike. Now, as we argued in the current issue of Mmereki, government fights back by using a similar strategy as in the Debswana strike in 2004. They define essential services, try to ban them from participating in the strike and threatening workers with dismissal if they do so. That, however, was not fruitful, as workers remained determined.

In the courts Now, during the last week government started to battle it out in the courts. The Industrial Court ruled that essential services workers have to go back to work (government’s definition of essential services includes even gardeners!). Immediately, the unions appealed the decision, which means the ruling has to be set aside until the appeal is heard and during that period essential services workers could legally participate in the strike. In a strange twist, today government lawyers appealed the appeal and are asking the court to give them permission to force workers back to work. Ironically, a judge which was appointed to hear the unions case is from the same law firm that currently represents government! Consequently, unions asked for him to be removed which was rejected.

In the central square Workers are currently show incredible courage and determination.

At the Morula Square where workers assemble everyday, the doctors, the nurses and the cleaners are still there defying any court orders and any threats of dismissals. Workers stated today that nobody will go back to work and they will not let government divide them. Their determination grew firm also because the President rejected any dialogue with the unions and allegedly stormed out of a cabinet meeting last week where cabinet had recommended a 12% pay rise to end the strike. Later that day the president stated in the state TV channel that workers can strike the next three years and would not get more salary.

Solidarity is needed Concretely, many dismissals might be on the agenda as the strike might loose its legal backing. Therefore, the strike is at a turning point. The public certainly supports the strike, tribal leaders who were instructed not to hear complaints of workers at their customary assemblies defied instructions and listened to the workers. However, state power makes solidarity action now difficult. Police denied a permission for workers to march to parliament today, they banned a solidarity march planned by all three major opposition parties on Saturday and even banned routine opposition rallies.

Comrades, the workers are extraordinarily brave and the union federation BOFEPUSU has done a sterling job to stand in for workers rights and dignity. Please help us by sending in solidarity messages from any union and/or organisation who is sympathetic to the fight of the public sector workers. Send solidarity messages to the president of BOFEPUSO, Masego Mogwera:
e-mail: masegomogwera@yahoo.com FAX: +267 3935773/4 and copy it to IS Botswana Thanks comrades,