Eskom to reconsider its 7% offer to NUM workers

Johannesburg - The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has called an urgent national shop steward council meeting, to be held on Tuesday, to discuss Eskom's decision to reconsider its 7% offer.

Paris Mashego, NUM Eskom energy sector coordinator, told Fin24 that Eskom will revisit the offer of 7% and propose a new offer. The power utility is open to negotiations and has applied a Section 150 intervention with the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration, to find a quick resolution to the strike.

“Negotiating a settlement is a better option for workers than not to have negotiations at all,” said Mashego. The union is currently demanding  a one year wage agreement, of 12% increase for maximum wage earners and a 13% increase for minimum wage earners. But this is negotiable, added Mashego.

Read: Eskom warns against illegal strike as NUM downs tools

Other demands include a R5 000 housing allowance and occasional leave and the selling of leave.

The union’s national council will then decide if the strike action will continue, given Eskom’s willingness to reconsider their offer.

General secretary David Sipunzi said last month that Eskom’s offer of 7% was an “insult” to Eskom employees who had worked to prevent any load shedding in the past year. 

Mashego said that the union is still awaiting a date for discussions to be facilitated by the CCMA.

Meanwhile, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa Numsa said in a statement on Monday that it is mobilising all its members in Eskom after talks deadlocked.

Irvin Jim, Numsa general secretary said no agreement was reached on the unions’ demands for a living wage and improved conditions of employment.

"The union has applied for a certificate of non-resolution from the CCMA," he said.

"The union is writing to Eskom CEO Brian Molefe to arrange a meeting between senior management and the Eskom board, and senior leadership of all the unions, to seek a resolution to the dispute."

Jim added that if no agreement is reached,  as a last resort, Numsa members will embark on strike action.