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NUM to consider interdicting Eskom’s implementation of 1.5% wage offer

Details

numBL Premium reports that according to the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), Eskom’s unilateral decision to implement a 1.5% wage increase for non-managerial employees at the power utility was premature and unlawful.

The NUM, which is the majority union at the state-owned enterprise, said it was contemplating interdicting implementation of the increase. The power utility informed its three recognised unions, namely the NUM, the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and Solidarity, on Thursday of its decision to implement the wage increase on 1 July. This followed the collapse of talks at the central bargaining council earlier in June. After the collapse, Eskom declared a dispute and the unions referred the matter to the CCMA for arbitration. Eskom employees are prevented from striking because they provide an essential service, so arbitration is the only recourse to solve the wage dispute. In a statement on Friday, the utility said it would also adjust various benefits such as payments for overtime, travel benefits and transfer benefits, which would enable it to “better protect jobs at Eskom, address and manage the risk to the organisation’s sustainability”. As the date for the arbitration has not yet been set, Eskom’s unilateral decision was “premature,” and “unlawful”, according to the NUM’s Khangela Baloyi. Numsa’s Vuyo Bikitsha, said they were considering taking legal action against Eskom because the utility had “no powers to change service conditions and it can’t be sidestepped”. Solidarity’s Helgard Cronjé said the wage offer by Eskom was dependent on employees accepting changes to basic conditions of employment, so it “is thus not an offer because Eskom is simply offering the money they are taking back from these employees to them.”

  • Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thando Maeko at BusinessLive (paywall access only)
  • Read too, Labour union slams Eskom over 1.5% pay increase, at Moneyweb


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