ECONOMIC FREEDOM FIGHTERS STATEMENT ON THE PARLIAMENTARY WORKERS' PROTEST

11 November 2015

The Economic Freedom Fighters supports the demands of Parliament Staff Members, and advice that they should never allow their protest action to be hijacked by the ruling party. The EFF's support for the demands of workers is informed by our ideological and political commitment to fight for living and fair remuneration and wages for all workers in South Africa. Our position is not borne out of opportunism because most of those workers belong to a reactionary public service union, NEHAWU, which works with the people who are denying them fair salaries and remuneration.

We note that the Secretary to Parliament consistently characterizes the strike as an illegal strike because Parliament is an essential service, and that a 2010 interdict should be revoked. During the Parliamentary Oversight Authority Meeting, the racist Democratic Alliance and the ANC called for the physical assault and removal of Parliament employees from the premises and even went further to suggest that workers should be dismissed for protesting. The EFF stated in categorical terms that the Parliament should accede to workers' demands and should also extend to cover workers who are paid R1,900 per month in Parliamentary Cafeteria.

The EFF calls for the composure of Parliament management and should immediately stop the usage of police and stun grenades to dissipate members of parliament. Physical harassment of protesters should be condemned and never allowed anywhere. We also call on the workers to realize the obvious reality that the ANC is not their allies in the struggle for fair and equitable wages. It is the ANC which has introduced the vetting systems because they do not trust workers.

The use of police and stun grenades and all forms of forceful removals should stop. Parliament must accede to workers' demands.

Issued by EFF Chief Whip Floyd Shivambu, 11 November 2015