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Johannesburg - Union members had a "general feeling of acceptance" toward Eskom's wage offer, the National Union of Mineworkers (Num) said on Friday
"The general feeling of our members is that they are accepting the offer," Num spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said in an interview on SABC radio.
"There are members here and there who indicated dissatisfaction but we had to explain to them that in negotiations, it's a give and take business."
Seshoka said the 9% wage increase was "exactly what we were looking for".
He also expressed satisfaction with the offer of a R1 500 housing subsidy.
"Some workers have never had a housing subsidy, so that is very good.
"We believe we have scored," said Seshoka. "We believe strongly the general feeling is that of acceptance as we have seen in the statistics released yesterday (Thursday)."
Unions had until Friday to sell Eskom's offer to their members, with Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) director Nerine Kahn explaining this week that the unions would return on Friday with a response to the proposed offer.
Solidarity, the Num and the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) all welcomed the new offer, which was thrashed out in talks facilitated by the CCMA last weekend.
Eskom initially offered an 8.5% wage increase and a R1 000 housing allowance. The unions were demanding a 9% wage increase and a R2 500 housing allowance, and threatened to strike if their demands were not met.
- Sapa
"The general feeling of our members is that they are accepting the offer," Num spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said in an interview on SABC radio.
"There are members here and there who indicated dissatisfaction but we had to explain to them that in negotiations, it's a give and take business."
Seshoka said the 9% wage increase was "exactly what we were looking for".
He also expressed satisfaction with the offer of a R1 500 housing subsidy.
"Some workers have never had a housing subsidy, so that is very good.
"We believe we have scored," said Seshoka. "We believe strongly the general feeling is that of acceptance as we have seen in the statistics released yesterday (Thursday)."
Unions had until Friday to sell Eskom's offer to their members, with Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) director Nerine Kahn explaining this week that the unions would return on Friday with a response to the proposed offer.
Solidarity, the Num and the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) all welcomed the new offer, which was thrashed out in talks facilitated by the CCMA last weekend.
Eskom initially offered an 8.5% wage increase and a R1 000 housing allowance. The unions were demanding a 9% wage increase and a R2 500 housing allowance, and threatened to strike if their demands were not met.
- Sapa
