Parliament learns of Monday’s strike action via media reports

Parliament on Monday urged the National Education‚ Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) not to engage “in actions which spawn polarity and which may lead to acts of criminality”.

This comes as the National Assembly said it was concerned that Nehawu members have been reported to be planning a Monday resumption of their industrial action which has seen parliamentary business being disrupted.

A statement from Parliament said “no formal notification of a strike was received by management as required”‚ but it noted that “media reports now suggest that Nehawu is not satisfied with the discussions thus far and has resolved to resume their illegal strike action”.

Parliament seemed surprised by the reports‚ saying it and “the union leadership have been in discussion since the suspension of the strike earlier this month”.

“Parliament understood the engagement to be about committing to finding solutions to problems as opposed to tabling ultimatums‚” the statement said.

“Leaving the discussion table every time a party does not get its way suggests a predisposition to a win-lose mentality which is not helpful.”