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EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT debates were stopped for half an hour today when MEPs switched off microphones in support of an interpreters’ strike.
Around a dozen politicians, including Labour’s Theresa Griffin, briefly occupied parliament’s control room to stop technicians turning the power back on.
Parliament president Antonio Tajani accused MEPs of “acting like trade unionists.”
“The negotiations are between the administration and the interpreters and it’s not incumbent on [MEPs] to intervene,” he moaned.
Interpreters have coped with an increase in languages provided to 24 but seen staff numbers cut.
Parliament general secretary Klaus Welle wants them to spend eight hours in their booths a day, rather than the current seven.
They have been “on strike” for a month but have been “requisitioned” by parliament and have to keep working.
Interpreters have read statements about their situation during debates and displayed posters on the windows of their booths.
