Africa-Press – Lesotho. Water and Sewerage Company (WASCO) workers took their frustrations to the board and management of the company accusing them of not implementing the approved salary
increment. These developments transpired yesterday at the company grounds and were characterised by an emotionally charged atmosphere. They had on Wednesday
this week downed tools demanding that their demands be met. WASCO acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Thelejane Thelejane said they had failed to deliver on
their commitments on account of financial constraints. He said if the company can successfully deliver on its projects the salaries will improve. The workers demand the
3.5 percent salary adjustment which the company has not implemented despite being approved. Taking their issues with
the management, one of the workers said he does not know what the management “discuss” in meetings, citing poor management. “I wonder if this bad luck is a result of poor management,” charged one disgruntled worker.
One said “unless” the management puts its house in order, the company will see no progress. The acting Chairperson of the board Attorney Monaheng Rasekoai said he does not want to “promise” workers
anything but is committed to ensuring their grievances are resolved. The Chairperson said there has to be a dialogue between the management and the workers adding that
the communication channels should be open and not be top-down. The workers, he said ought to have a platform to air their dissatisfaction and the management should
heed to their call. Attorney said the management and the Ministry (of Water) should also have an audience. The National Union of Commerce, Catering and Allied Workers (NUCCAW) shop steward Thuso Lengasa of
the workers union insisted that the workers want the promised 3.5 percent increase. He said they had followed the proper procedures in requesting for the workers increase, saying they have
two agreements which are that the workers will be afforded 5 percent inflationary adjustment and 3.5 percent for wages hike. He said they have only received 5 percent.
The visibly irate employees decried being sent from pillar to post when they demand the adjustments. The Chairperson cautioned that the company can only effect the adjustments if it is feasible and
sustainable to undertake such otherwise “it will collapse”. Following the heated engagements with the management and the board, the workers have resumed work
operations. He also threatened to crack the whip where there is lack of commitment to delivering. The Legal Manager and Secretary of the board Advocate Realeboha Mathaba challenged the Chairperson to
be on someone if they fail to execute their tasks. Advocate Mathaba said on January 28, 2020 the 8.5 percent (3.5 percent and 5 percent) adjustment proposition was made to the management but was not tabled before the board.
“One thing that I want to guarantee is that the board has got the best interest of the staff at heart,”
he said further pointing out that the success of the company relies on the collective and not on the management and board. Workers representative within the union, Motlokoa Mathaba said the Chairperson should fulfil his
undertaking or else he will “find them here [at the grounds of the company where the picketing takes place]”. “I joined this company in 1988 as a boy, this is the first [time that workers down tools],” Mathaba said.
The CEO said he will deliver on the task issued to him by Attorney Rasekoai. He further conceded that the company problems demotivate the workers. Meanwhile, the
Chairperson has charged the CEO to mount a task force that will work to address the workers grievances and report back. The Chairperson is expected to return
to the workers and report on “concrete” answers to the employees cries on Friday 17 September after receiving the report and having met the Minister of Water and the board. WASCO was established through the Water and Sewerage Company (Propriety) Limited (Establishment and Vesting) Act of 2010.
