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Will Eskom call Numsa’s bluff?

Johannesburg - Eskom will have to call a major bluff by Wednesday after the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) threatened to call out 9 000 “essential services” workers on an unprotected strike this week.

At the same time, Eskom’s Medupi and Kusile power stations might become bargaining chips in a separate strike by the metal and engineering industries, set to begin on Tuesday.

Numsa earlier announced that its members at the power utility will hold a protest march.

“The intention is to move towards a full strike,” says Steve Nhlapo, Numsa’s sector co-ordinator for energy and non-precious metals.

“On Tuesday we will see the response,” he told City Press.

Power stations

Numsa claims 9 000 members across Eskom, including at its head offices.

“The majority are in the power stations,” says Nhlapo.

Eskom’s current wage offer to unions is 5.6% for three years, while the union’s demand is 12%.

According to Nhlapo, the strike could also affect the building sites of Eskom’s Medupi and Kusile power stations.

The slightest threat to once again delay the switch-on date for Medupi is a powerful bargaining chip, but employers in the metals industries seem ready to dig in their heels.
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