Eskom Wage Negotiations Set to Continue Next Week

The South African National Union of Metalworkers (NUMSA) and other unions have met with Eskom on Thursday, but the wage increase dispute – which has resulted in load-shedding in SA – has not yet been resolved.

The Eskom employees have reduced their wage increase demand to 9 percent.

Eskom had initially offered the workers a 4.7 percent wage increase for this year and inflation-related increases for the next three years.

However, workers on Wednesday rejected the counter offer from Eskom, putting down the new offer of 9 percent.

Numsa General Secretary, Irvin Jim said that the negotiations will resume next week Wednesday

“We have not received any progress today. We are where we were yesterday because the fundamental issue is wages. But for them to be able to respond completely, the board would apparently be able to have a full board on Monday.”

In a joint statement with Solidarity, and the National Union of Mineworkers, Nums said it was frustrated that Eskom had sent a delegation that didn’t have the power to make decisions.

“It is unacceptable that when the entire nation is waiting with bated breath for an outcome on these wage talks, Eskom continues to play games with the process,” the joint statement said.