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4 September, 2006
It was two years ago when bitter mining fights broke out between ICEM affiliate Botswana Mine Workers’ Union (BMWU) and the managements of two companies. The prolonged fights spilled into courtrooms, led to splits in the BMWU, and were stained by overt interference by mining companies Debswana and Bamangwato Concession Ltd. (BCL) in branch and national union affairs.
Perhaps worst of all, Debswana, a rich diamond operation shared between DeBeers and the government of Botswana, displayed despicable social behaviour by ruthlessly retaliating against some 450 strikers and their families. History will tell how a set of labour disputes led to internal trade union discord. However, it will also tell how profiteering by one of the companies – Debswana – created a climate during which the company took savage and unconscionable actions.
Debswana sacked the professional staff for striking, and then inflicted harsh retaliatory measures on them throughout lengthy court battles. Debswana forcefully evicted workers from company housing and closed educational opportunities to children of the workers. Both Debswana and BCL, a copper, nickel and cobalt mining concern based in Botswana, interceded into internal BMWU affairs by pitting branch leaders against the national leadership. The interference was obvious and flagrant.
At BCL in August 2004, BMWU Selebi-Phikwe branch leaders were negotiating salaries with the company. After a 7% increase was offered and BCL miners were about to approve it, the company suddenly rescinded the increase and fired the branch leaders. BCL charged the union leaders with being in possession of internal financial data, information commonly shared in most collective bargaining relationships.
That dispute, like the one at Debswana, still lingers. In early August 2006, some workers at BCL downed tools because aspects of the 2004 pay increase still has not been realised. In Botswana, mining investment continues at an unabated pace, making the country an African leader in resource output and production.
A commemoration of both struggles was held over the weekend of 26-27 August in the mining areas of Orapa, Letlhakane, and Jwaneng. Sponsored by the BMWU, the programmes included demonstrations, speeches, and general reconciliation, as well as recognition that trade union unity brings strength to the working masses. Standing together with BMWU were the Botswana Federation of Trade Unions (BFTU), ICEM-affiliated Power Corporation Workers’ Union (BPCWU), the Manual Workers’ Union, and several white-collar workers’ unions.
Speakers included ICEM President Senzeni Zokwana, President of South Africa’s National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), BPCWU Organising Secretary Boitlhetswe Lentswe, BMWU General Secretary Jack Tlhagale, and BMWU National Chairman Chimidzani Chimidza.
Zokwana delivered a message that building strong unions is not easy, but essential in order to gain equal footing with global companies. In encouraging all of Botswana’s unions to stand together, Zokwana said, “The challenge is to link class struggles together, then you become bigger and the voice gets stronger.”
ICEM President Senzeni Zokwana
Lentse brought a message of reconciliation and resilience. “Make peace and know that these are the deeds of employers and the government to dive us so they can rule,” he said, according to published newspaper reports in Botswana. “The fight against capital needs very strong unions with informed and militant membership,” said Lentse. He echoed the main theme of the commemoration – justice, dignity, and reinstatement for the 450 Debswana workers, as well as for the branch officers who were also fired by BCL.
Lentse cautioned Botswana’s labour leaders not to align themselves inside the country’s political parties, but rather to join global labour organisations for solidarity and skills development.
Tlhagale reminded all in Botswana, including Debswana’s 7,000 miners, that the 450 health care and other professional staff fired by the company had merely been protesting for a share of the lucrative bonuses given to Debswana’s top managers only months before the August 2004 strike.
He said that the sacked workers are victims of the bad-faith bargaining in wage negotiations by Debswana toward BMWU. “It is unfortunate that government continues to take great interest in investors under the pretext that there is a stable labour market guaranteed by impoverishing docility,” Tlhagale said, reported the Mmegi Reporter.