Strike action delays parliament debate

FOR the first time in history, a scheduled sitting of the National Assembly was postponed for hours because of industrial unrest as aggrieved officials went on strike and blocked entrances.

The action brought the institution to a near-standstill yesterday as officials from all units downed tools over performance bonuses, conditions of service, security vetting and outsourcing.

Committee secretaries, researchers, translators and content advisers downed tools on Friday, with the action continuing this week.

Riot police were on patrol as hundreds of National Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) members protested inside the parliamentary precinct.

Parliament is home to Nehawu’s biggest branch in the Western Cape.

Union official Sthe Tembe said the action would continue until demands were met.

Secretary to parliament Gengezi Mgidlana held a hastily organised press conference on Monday, when he said the business of parliament would carry on as planned.

He also said Nehawu’s grievances fell outside the agreement signed by the union and parliament in March, a claim dismissed by the union.

Yesterday, the 11am sitting of parliament eventually took place at 2pm.

MPs discussed the strike, but without the services of translators as all of these, except those translating into Afrikaans, English and Xhosa, were on strike.

EFF chief whip Floyd Shivambu questioned parliament’s “uncaring” attitude towards its striking workers.

House of Assembly chairman Cedric Frolick acknowledged that translation services were limited.

The office of ANC chief whip Stone Sizani noted with concern the continuing strike by parliamentary staff.