Parliament has obtained an interim order from the Labour Court, interdicting and restraining the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) and its members employed by Parliament from calling upon, inciting or encouraging their members to picket within the precinct of Parliament on 10 September 2010 or at anytime thereafter without the required permission.
Parliament was forced to file an urgent application for the following reasons:
- The picketing was unlawful. Nehawu did not obtain permission in terms of the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act No 4 of 2004.
- The picketing was further in breach of the agreement between Parliament and Nehawu, which required Nehawu to obtain prior permission from the Presiding Officers to demonstrate with the precinct of Parliament.
- The unlawful picketing was getting increasingly disruptive with respect to the operations of the institution.
It should be noted that Parliament respects and observes workers’ rights to demonstrate within the ambits of the law. Parliament applied for the urgent interim order to protect the integrity of the institution.
