Publications
Partners
Johannesburg – Power utility Eskom on Thursday warned that an illegal strike by unions refusing its current wage offer would have an impact on the security of supply.
Two of three trade unions have said they plan to strike at the utility next week after wage negotiations collapsed.
While the utility has ruled out rolling blackouts, Eskom CEO Brian Dames said the country's reserve margin remained "quite narrow" and a strike might have an impact on certain installations. This in turn, could hurt some customers.
Eskom had offered an 8.5% pay rise and a R1 000 per month housing allowance, but trade unions are seeking a 9% wage rise and a R2 500 allowance .
Dames said Eskom could "simply not afford" the unions' demand.
He said Eskom's package as it stood was already R450m above the wage increase allowed by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa.
The unions' demand would take that to R1bn above the regulator's allowance. "We have no intention to go back to the regulator to ask for an adjustment," said Dames.
Any amounts above the regulator's allowance would have to be made up through improved efficiencies in the organisation.
Dames said the wage issue was one of national importance.
"It is our view as Eskom that we must put the national interest first," Dames said.
- I-Net Bridge
Two of three trade unions have said they plan to strike at the utility next week after wage negotiations collapsed.
While the utility has ruled out rolling blackouts, Eskom CEO Brian Dames said the country's reserve margin remained "quite narrow" and a strike might have an impact on certain installations. This in turn, could hurt some customers.
Eskom had offered an 8.5% pay rise and a R1 000 per month housing allowance, but trade unions are seeking a 9% wage rise and a R2 500 allowance .
Dames said Eskom could "simply not afford" the unions' demand.
He said Eskom's package as it stood was already R450m above the wage increase allowed by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa.
The unions' demand would take that to R1bn above the regulator's allowance. "We have no intention to go back to the regulator to ask for an adjustment," said Dames.
Any amounts above the regulator's allowance would have to be made up through improved efficiencies in the organisation.
Dames said the wage issue was one of national importance.
"It is our view as Eskom that we must put the national interest first," Dames said.
- I-Net Bridge
