Zuma 'not indebted to unions'

Johannesburg - President Jacob Zuma said on Tuesday there was "no pandering" to unions and he was not indebted to them.

Unions which helped Zuma rise to power want him to spend more on the poor, a policy that would be economically risky during the country's first recession since 1992.

His remarks appeared aimed at easing concerns that he would change economic policies to please organised labour.

Union officials said earlier that most workers at state power firm Eskom appeared ready to accept a pay offer from the utility that would avert a strike.

The National Union of Mineworkers (Num) told Fin24.com it would debate the matter again on Wednesday.

However, the union's chief negotiator was hopeful a resolution could be reached. "It looks like it might go well; we're pushing very hard to end this," said Num chief negotiator Paris Mashego.

The reason for the delay is that a determining vote from Eskom's Mpumalanga union members could not be obtained by Tuesday afternoon, he said.

The proposed strike of Eskom employees was planned to start this week before the power company offered a 10.5% wage increase compared to union expectations of a 14% wage increase.

"We have not finished consultation with one of our strongest bases - Mpumalanga, where most of the power stations are located," said Mashego.

According to Mashego, once the Mpumalanga vote has been cast, Num will be able to determine whether further negotiation is needed.

"All the members have no problem with the proposed wage increase," said Mashego. However, he said that a possible hurdle now is the housing allowance requested by Num and the other unions.

According to Eskom spokesperson Andrew Etzinger, the parastatal was hoping to keep the housing allowances a separate issue.

"The housing allowances is a complicated issue that should be addressed between now and the beginning of next year, but should not hold up the current issues," Etzinger said.

- Fin24.com and Reuters