Parliament - Parliamentary staff affiliated to the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) on Tuesday protested over employment conditions for a second day, bringing much of the scheduled work at the legislature to a halt.
At 11am, after hundreds of Nehawu members had been protesting as police kept watch, a cheer went through the crowd as it learnt that the morning sitting of the National Assembly had been suspended.
“We are going to continue until our demands are met,” said the head of the trade union’s parliamentary branch, Sthembiso Tembe.
Tembe said Nehawu members, of whom there are some 970 at Parliament, expected to be called to a meeting with management later in the day.
“The chief whip of the ANC is also intervening and has asked to meet with us,” he added.
Chief whip Stone Sizani’s office issued a statement late on Monday expressing concern about the situation and hoped that it could be resolved rapidly.
“We are naturally concerned by the strike, which has the potential to impact on the operations of Parliament and the intensive programme of both the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces in the few remaining weeks of the 2015 parliamentary programme.
“We remain confident in the capability of both parties to find a speedy and amicable solution to the issues under dispute in the interest of the institution and the people of South Africa.”
Nehawu is demanding better working conditions and that Parliament honour undertakings on bonuses and pension fund improvements, and stop the practice of outsourcing services.
It is accusing Parliament of reneging on an agreement reached in March to address complaints on the pension fund system.
Several portfolio committee meetings were cancelled, including those on education, co-operative governance and public works. MPs were set to finalise their consideration of the Expropriation Bill in the public works committee.
A woman who works for the parliamentary communications service, but asked not to be named, said it was not functioning at all.
While striking Nehawu members, dressed in red T-shirts, sang and danced inside the parliamentary precinct, police could be seen strapping on protective riot gear outside the gates.
“They should stay there,” commented Tembe.
The police later formed a chain outside Tuynhuys, barring the way to the office of President Jacob Zuma. He is on an official visit to Germany.
ANA