Unions Reject Eskom’s 3.5% Wage Offer
Unions stand firm as Eskom’s 3.5% offer falls short.
image: Internet
by Kelebogile Matlou
After three days of negotiations at the National Bargaining Forum, unions representing Eskom employees have rejected the power utility’s 3.5% salary rise proposal. The discussions, which involve the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), and Solidarity, are taking place as unions demand a 15% pay increase owing to increased living costs and the need to recognize workers’ achievements.
Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena says the utility has made an offer and is now waiting for unions to justify its requests. She adds that Eskom remains dedicated to transparency and justice throughout the process, as well as protecting the interests of its employees.
NUMSA, on the other hand, contends that the 3.5% offer does not account for the contributions workers have made to Eskom’s recent performance improvements.
According to Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, NUMSA’s national spokesperson, Eskom’s offer ignores workers’ contributions to the utility’s R16 billion profit, more than 500 days of no loadshedding, and an energy availability factor of more than 90%. “In light of these achievements, offering 3.5 percent is simply not good enough,” she said.
NUMSA is requesting not only a 15% salary raise, but also a R7,000 housing allowance and an 80% medical assistance contribution. The union requests a one-year deal and believes that if Eskom is interested in a multi-year contract, it must make a more meaningful offer than 3.5 percent.
