PARLIAMENTARY staff represented by the National Education Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) have given Parliament until Tuesday to reverse the suspension of four of their members, or they would down tools.
On Tuesday, Secretary to Parliament Gengezi Mgidlana imposed a precautionary suspension on S’thembiso Tembe, Nehawu chairperson in Parliament, among others.
On Wednesday, Nehawu gathered at the Central Methodist Church in Cape Town in support of the suspended members.
In a statement, Parliament described the work stoppage by Nehawu members as illegal, unauthorised and unprotected. It also reminded workers that Parliament was an essential service, the union’s management said in the statement.
"The strike action is apparently in response to the precautionary suspension of two staff members, who are also Nehawu members. The two officials were suspended following disruption of two staff general meetings addressed by the Secretary to Parliament," the union said in the statement.
However, Tembe said that pending interventions from the union’s higher structures, Nehawu would give Parliament until Tuesday to withdraw the suspensions, failing which the union would go on strike.
"Further interventions will take place on Tuesday. If there is no solution we will strike. We will get guidance from provincial leadership on what to do next. We are not on strike today. We were originally planning a strike for tomorrow. If we remain suspended by Tuesday we will strike," Tembe said.
Parliament said in its statement that the suspension of the Nehawu officials did not mean that they had been found guilty of the charges against them, and that they would still get paid, pending the outcome of an internal disciplinary process.
The work stoppage on Wednesday is just the latest in a standoff between parliament and its staff. The main bone of contention are deductions from staff salaries, following an unprotected strike in late 2015.
Picture: SUNDAY TIMES
PARLIAMENTARY staff represented by the National Education Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) have given Parliament until Tuesday to reverse the suspension of four of their members, or they would down tools.
On Tuesday, Secretary to Parliament Gengezi Mgidlana imposed a precautionary suspension on S’thembiso Tembe, Nehawu chairperson in Parliament, among others.
On Wednesday, Nehawu gathered at the Central Methodist Church in Cape Town in support of the suspended members.
In a statement, Parliament described the work stoppage by Nehawu members as illegal, unauthorised and unprotected. It also reminded workers that Parliament was an essential service, the union’s management said in the statement.
"The strike action is apparently in response to the precautionary suspension of two staff members, who are also Nehawu members. The two officials were suspended following disruption of two staff general meetings addressed by the Secretary to Parliament," the union said in the statement.
However, Tembe said that pending interventions from the union’s higher structures, Nehawu would give Parliament until Tuesday to withdraw the suspensions, failing which the union would go on strike.
"Further interventions will take place on Tuesday. If there is no solution we will strike. We will get guidance from provincial leadership on what to do next. We are not on strike today. We were originally planning a strike for tomorrow. If we remain suspended by Tuesday we will strike," Tembe said.
Parliament said in its statement that the suspension of the Nehawu officials did not mean that they had been found guilty of the charges against them, and that they would still get paid, pending the outcome of an internal disciplinary process.
The work stoppage on Wednesday is just the latest in a standoff between parliament and its staff. The main bone of contention are deductions from staff salaries, following an unprotected strike in late 2015.
