Speaker, the DA fully supports the call by Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant during an oversight visit last week that farm workers and not union leaders should decide whether to go on strike or not. We are, however, concerned, Minister, about reports of party-political politicking at the meeting.
Indeed, Minister, it is the workers who have to decide whether they want to strike or not. It is a basic democratic right that they are being denied by union bosses. That is why the DA and most people in this country were shocked and disappointed when ANC members in the Portfolio Committee on Labour voted to remove the strike balloting clause in the Labour Relations Amendment Bill - this, apparently, to curry favour with Cosatu.
Of even greater concern was the fact that the ANC voted for the clearly undemocratic Bill in this House. Strike balloting is a basic right that must be restored to all workers in South Africa. The question, Minister, is this: What are you going to do to restore this basic right to the workers? Thank you. [Applause.]