Francistown — The Botswana Public Employees Union (BOPEU) has accused the government of dragging its feet over the setting up of collective bargaining structures for the public service.

Speaking at the union's second annual convention at Mater Spei College on Tuesday, BOPEU President Andrew Motsamai said they were saddened by this lack of urgency on the part of government. "We have no intention of accepting any excuses once Parliament has passed a consolidated Public Service Act," he said.

Relations between the union and the employer had recently taken a turn for the worse and were unlike in the past when they were "cordial".

"Our relations with the employer is a source of concern," Motsamai said. "It appears they (the government) no longer take the union seriously."

The Department of Public Service Management (DPSM) had failed to consult and prepare for a signing ceremony to seal a recognition agreement reached in March this year, he said. In June this year, DPSM called another meeting to object to certain clauses of the agreement, the removal of which was agreed to by the union in the hope that its "indulgence" would lead to signing without delay.

"To our dismay and disappointment," Motsamai continued, "DPSM is slipping through our fingers. And unless someone comes to our rescue, something unpleasant is bound to happen.

He said it was regrettable that while BOPEU was made up of employees of different disciplines and embraced non-professionals for whom it wanted to attain permanent and pensionable status, two trade specific unions were recently granted recognition. Motsmai said that it would be a travesty of justice for a union representing an insignificant percentage of workers to displace a union boasting considerable following.