Eskom strike to go ahead

Johannesburg - The National Union of Mineworkers' (NUM) leaders have voted to go on strike at Eskom from next week.

"They've taken a decision to go on strike. They will mobilise (Wednesday) and go on strike from next week," spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said on Tuesday.

The decision was taken despite the possibility that a strike may be illegal.

"I don't know what to say about that. What I can say is that the council has voted to take this decision and will cross that bridge when they come to that. On any other issue, whether it is legal matters, they will cross that bridge when they come to it."

Seshoka said Eskom's most recent offer was for an 8.5% wage increase and a R1 000 housing allowance.

Unions had been insisting on a nine percent increase and a R2 500 housing allowance. Seshoka said the NUM would only have been willing to compromise on the wage increase if management had acceded to their housing allowance demand.

"They've rejected the 8.5% and the R1 000 housing allowances. If you want 8.5% then the housing allowance has to be R2 500."

Eskom's human resources managing director Bhabhalazi Bulunga said earlier that it was planning meetings with the public utility's other unions, Solidarity and the National Union of Metalworkers of SA, on Wednesday. They would also attempt to arrange a meeting with NUM.

Seshoka dismissed this possibility.

"I don't see how they can at this point meet (on Wednesday)."

- Sapa