PSU's PROTEST GOVERNMENT'S TRADE UNION BASHING THROUGH FAILING TO REMIT UNION DUES

Executive Members of the four PSUs at the entrance of the treasury in Mbabane.

Written by Fundizwi Sikhondze

Executive leaders of Public Service Trade Unions (PSU's) ,namely the Swaziland National association of Teachers (SNAT),the National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU) ,the Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) and the Swaziland National Government Accounts Personnel (SNAGAP) on Tuesday 10th October 2023 staged a protest at the entrance of the treasure in Mbabane. The leaders were protesting against the habitual delays in government remitting trade union dues that get deducted monthly to the respective trade unions.

The SNAT Platform described the act of failing to remit membership dues that have been deducted from trade unions members salaries as union bashing. Speaking to the ELI the Secretary General of SNAT Comrade Lot Vilakati stated that their action led to the government remitting the funds on the same day. He further stated that while they understand that the funds cannot be remitted immediately after the 22nd of each month because other teachers get paid at the end of the month but as PSUs they expect the funds to be remitted by the 3rd of the new month at the latest.

Secretary General Vilakati also revealed that they also faced other administrative challenges that may be characterised as union bashing. These include the government's administration of joining and resignation from public service unions. They continuously experience challenges where some members at times are not deducted and others are removed as members of unions without the knowledge of the union. Government officials always offer apologies and promise to rectify the challenges but never do.

Spokesperson of the Eswatini Government could not be reached at the time of publishing this news item,

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