Defiant striking Parliament workers on Monday said they refused to be slaves.

Chastising workers who had given up on the strikes and gone back to work on Monday, National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) branch chairperson Sthembiso Tembe encouraged the remaining protesters to “keep strong”.

The strike entered its fourth week on Monday.

Dwindling Nehawu strikers kept their spirits strong by singing, blowing vuvuzelas and challenging the massive police presence keeping them out of the precinct.

'The end is near'

Addressing members outside the gates of Parliament on Monday, Tembe said "the end was near" as national representatives were meeting with Parliament later on Monday.

He condemned those who had gone back to work.

“We are saying to those comrades who are beginning to lose hope, they are cowards. This issue will be resolved very soon. We request you to remain strong.

“Tell those people who are in offices that victory is certain. How are they going to feel when we win and they benefit knowing they sold out?”

Tembe asked the striking workers not to be intimidated by the "no work, no pay" threat, as they would get their money back.

Talking about those who had gone to work, he said the strikers should remind them the struggle was outside.

Committed

“We don’t care how committed they are. We are also committed. But we refuse to be slaves. We refused to be abused by the management of Parliament.”

The branch chairperson assured them that victory was certain, and the matter would be solved once and for all by Tuesday.

The strikers will also be addressed by Cosatu provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich on Monday.

The strikers are fighting for a change in the bonus payment and have also expressed their displeasure with Parliament’s re-vetting process.

News24.com