Johannesburg - Trade union Solidarity on Friday expressed its shock over figures indicating that Eskom's executive committee (excom) had received an average salary increase of 83% during the last financial year.
"At a presentation, Eskom gave us all kinds of information and then we worked it out for ourselves that the excom's increases varied from 73% to 91%," Solidarity spokesperson Jaco Kleynhans said.
These figures, released on Thursday, excluded payouts based on performance shares, which also increased by 89% more than what was provided for the in the 2009 financial statements.
Solidarity had given Eskom until Monday to give feedback regarding the trade union's proposed amendments to an Eskom wage offer to its members.
However, Solidarity general secretary Flip Buys said in a statement that in the light of these figures, the union could not wait until Monday and an emergency meeting had to take place on the weekend.
The excom's increases were not the result of new posts, but were awarded within existing posts, he said.
"If the payout of performance shares is added, some members of the executive committee, excluding the CEO, will have received nearly R7m."
Solidarity said the performance shares were based on the long-term performance of the company and were linked to performance goals, including Eskom's financial performance, sustainability and reputation.
"If the performance has been poor, less than the amount provided may be paid out, but according to Eskom its excom has performed so well that 89% more than the amount provided was paid out," Buys said.
Eskom's performance was not the result of exceptional strategic ability displayed by top management in the past three years.
The performance could be attributed to ordinary workers who maintained the network, despite a lack of support from top management, and the public who have had to cough up for big price increases, Buys said.
"As a responsible trade union, Solidarity has been committed to a negotiated settlement the whole time, but the announcement of the shocking figures relating to increases for Eskom's top management makes a negotiated settlement almost impossible."
Eskom has offered employees who are members of Solidarity, the National Union of Mineworkers and the National Union of Metalworkers of SA an 8.5% wage increase across the board and a R1 000 housing allowance.
The offer was rejected by all three labour unions.
Instead, they are demanding a nine percent wage increase across the board, a R2 500 housing allowance and six months' paid maternity leave.
Eskom could not immediately be reached for comment.
- Sapa