Cape Town – Eskom and unions are set to meet again on Friday to continue with wage talks after unions were given four working days to seek a mandate on Eskom’s latest offer from their members.
Eskom first offered unions a wage freeze, saying it had no money for increases.
After unions threatened a prolonged strike, it upped the offer to 4.7% and then 5%, which were rejected.
Eskom then offered 6.2%. It gave the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) and Solidarity an opportunity to present the offer to members.
READ: Eskom wage talks still unresolved, set to continue next week
Eskom spokesperson Khulu Phasiwe confirmed to Fin24 on Thursday that the wage talks would continue.
“As far as we know the negotiations are still set to continue tomorrow where we are optimistic that all parties are set to reach an agreement and settlement,” said Phasiwe.
Phasiwe said while there was no guarantee of the offer’s acceptance, the parties did not negotiated haphazardly and would continue with formal talks on Friday.
“Our offer was 6.2% and they have gone back to their constituency to revert to them. They would have to formally present their response. We will take it from there afterwards,” Phasiwe said.
Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said: “The talks will continue tomorrow. We will convene with the other unions. We will issue our response to the offer which we will announce our response in the meeting with Eskom and the other unions first”.