South Africa: Talks to End Nehawu's Parliament Strike On Track

By Jenni Evans, News24

Talks between Parliament and the National Education Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) to end the strike over performance bonuses were on track on Thursday.

The strike was suspended earlier this week.

Sthembiso Tembe, chairperson of Nehawu's Parliament branch, said representatives started meeting management on Wednesday, and talks continued over what percentage to use to calculate the bonuses.

Workers downed tools at the parliamentary precinct on November 6 over a dispute about whether the bonuses should be calculated on one month's salary, or a year's total package.

During the strike, committees were disrupted when Nehawu members entered the rooms singing loudly, and at one point an old interdict was revived by Parliament.

Police were called to remove protesters from the steps of the National Council of Provinces. Stun grenades were fired in clashes between workers and police.

On Tuesday, Parliament acceded to the workers' interpretation of how the bonuses should be calculated, leading to the suspension of the strike.

Parliament's secretary, Gengezi Mgidlana, has said that Parliament would not be able to afford the R50m needed to pay workers what they were demanding, after they had already received a 9% increase this year.

The union would report back to members at 14:00 on Friday.

Source: News24