Dames asked to refuse Eskom bonus

Johannesburg - The National Union of Mineworkers (Num), which represents about 10 000 workers at Eskom, said on Thursday that Brian Dames should refuse a bonus if "he's to be a good leader."

The Eskom board this week named Dames as the new chief executive officer of the electricity utility.

Trade union Solidarity this week announced that Eskom's financial statements made provision for the payment of performance shares to the value of R9.6m to directors and senior managers this month.

"If Dames is indeed a true leader, he must refuse to be part of this bonus  saga," said Lesiba Seshoka, Num spokesperson.

The union did however welcome his appointment.

"We would like to support his appointment. He has the necessary attributes but he has to show us he's the man for the job and turn Eskom around,"

"But we know he's part of the leadership that failed Eskom particularly when it comes to labour relations issues," Seshoka added. 

Eskom recently announced a R3.6bn profit for the 2009/10 financial year.

But Num does not believe this is the case. 

"We believe the Minister [Barbara Hogan, Public Enterprises Minister] has been blinded by the so-called profit.

"That money has been taken from the poor workers," said Seshoka.

Three trade unions, Num, Solidarity and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) are currently trying to reach a wage agreement in a dispute that's now before the CCMA.

Workers are demanding an 18% wage increment coupled with housing allowance while Eskom is believed to be offering 7% revised upwards from 5.5%.

Solidarity also welcomed Dames' appointment but agreed with the Num that there needed to be changes in how Eskom addresses labour relations.

"We've said in the beginning that he'll be the best candidate for the job. But his appointment will not solve the labour relations problems there.

"We will certainly engage with him to encourage him to change the management culture especially when it comes to dealing with employees," commented Solidarity spokesperson Jaco Kleynhans.

He added that Dames was the best person to deal with cost cutting measures at the parastatal.

Eskom has announced that it plans to undertake cost saving exercises that are likely to save the company about R20bn.

"He's [Dames] got experience on the operations side of the company. In that sense we were very positive with his appointment and that he'll get costs under control. Dames is the best to deal with the issue of bringing costs under control," remarked Kleynhans.

 - I-Net Bridge