Parliament will on Wednesday implement a five-year-old interdict against striking workers, in a bid to force them to take their protest action outside the precinct.

Speaking on the third day of the strike in Parliament on Tuesday, secretary Gengezi Mgidlana said the interdict, obtained during similar strikes in 2010, outlined that protests had to take place outside the Parliamentary premises.

This was so that proceedings at Parliament were not disrupted.

Hundreds of Nehawu employees downed tools on Friday over various issues, including the payment structure of bonuses and vetting of staff. These included committee secretaries, content advisors, cleaners and communication liaisons.

On Tuesday, of the 10 committees scheduled to meet, only six were able to do so.

Mgidlala said Parliament would not allow the business of committees and the House to be disrupted.

He said they had not yet abandoned engagements with Nehawu, but were intent on making sure that work continued.

“If there are attempts to prevent people from working, we will take the necessary steps.”

He said police were monitoring the situation and Parliament was working with them to ensure the protest action was within the confines of the interdict and the law.

The interdict restrained Nehawu from calling, encouraging and inciting members to picket on Parliament’s precinct from September 10 2010 and any time afterwards, Parliament said.

He said the business of Parliament, including that of 20 committees, would continue on Wednesday. News24