Exploring Challenges Of Collective Bargaining Coverage In The Public Sector

Abstract

Collective bargaining promotes employee participation and addresses irregularities that exist in the workplace. A well-functioning collective bargaining system provides an atmosphere in which workers can influence decision making. The study seeks to establish the extent of collective bargaining coverage in Botswana and to recommend strategies to make collective bargaining attractive in Botswana. To realise the set objectives, the study adopted a qualitative phenomenological research design. The research was conducted in Botswana’s public sector, using a sample size of fifteen (15) participants that was purposively selected. Data was collected through face to face semi structured interviews and content and thematic analysis was used for data analysis. The general picture that emerges from the current study is [1]that Botswana has a high coverage rate of 75%. The study found that even though all employees in the public service have bargaining rights, the scope for the current bargaining unit comprises the D1 salary scale and below.  The present study’s findings revealed that workers on the E and F salary scales are not part of the bargaining unit because they are classified as management. In a nutshell, the current study has established that Botswana is a hybrid of adjusted and unadjusted collective bargaining coverage rates.