“Unions are not mere economic actors: they are necessarily protagonists in the political arena. Regulating the labor market is a question of energy resources. However, while trade unions are inevitably both economic and political actors, the relationship between the two is complex…”A trade union as defined by the Law on the Organization of Trade Unions and Employers as an organization whose principal object includes the regulation of relationships between employees and employers or employers' organizations. Therefore, its objective would necessarily be that of collective bargaining. Collective bargaining deals with balancing divergent interests, i.e. those of the employer in maximizing profits and those of the employee in adequate remuneration for services rendered. Therefore, there are competing interest groups that rely heavily on the collective bargaining process as a means of conflict resolution. Although Botswana has enjoyed the status of the most stable and prosperous economy on the continent, it has relatively little experience in collective bargaining, and although unions are free, they have not been able to use the bargaining mechanism to achieve positive results. Until very recently, the government was the most important actor in determining wages in the country. This essay will have a two-level cost/benefit analysis examining the following issues:1. Position of the law both locally and internationally regarding political affiliation.2. The practical effectiveness of political affiliation (or lack thereof) for important stakeholders who are: (a) the employer, the employee and (b) the unions. In this light therefore, the discussion will focus on amalgamated unions such as BOFEPUSO and BFTU ...... middle of the document ......rwe.1990The politics of unions in transition: the case of the Congress of South African Trade Unions, Geoffrey Wood , Middlesex University.Industrial Relations in Southern Africa: The Challenge of Change, Tayo Fashoyin (Southern Africa Multidisciplinary Consultative Group, International Labor Organization, Harare, Zimbabwe)BooksCollective Labor Law in Botswana, Oagile Bethuela Key DingakeJurisprudenceZachariah v Botswana Power Corporation 1996 BLR 710Statues, Conventions and TreatiesInternational Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural RightsILO Convention 87 Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize – Trade Unions and Employers' Organizations Act 1948 [Chapter 48:01]Botswana Constitution Act on Public Service Chapter [26:01]Employment Law [47:01]Commercial Disputes Law [Ch 48:02]Law on Trade Unions and Employers' Organizations [Ch 48:01]