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An Eskom logo is seen at the entrance of their head offices in Sunninghill, Sandton.
The National Union of Mineworkers (Num) has kicked off wage negotiations at Eskom with a 15% salary increase demand for its members. Other demands include a housing benefit of R7 000 a month and the company’s medical aid contribution of 80%.
The current 7% multi-year agreement comes to an end in June next year.
The union has signalled that talks could be complicated by Eskom’s changes to collective bargaining, after the entity was unbundled into three divisions.
Eskom has proposed that the three entities establish their own union recognition agreements. Num says the move goes against collective bargaining and will frustrate wage talks at Eskom.
“The National Union of Mineworkers is firm on its demand for a 15% wage increase for Eskom employees. A figure justified by the high cost of living, we stand in solidarity with other unions that are organising at Eskom in demanding that negotiations remain within the central bargaining forum. Eskom and government must understand that the unbundling of Eskom must not be used to abandon workers’ unity and collective bargaining rights, as members prefer to negotiate in the central bargaining forum,” says the union’s spokesperson, Livhuwani Mamburu.
VIDEO| Num is concerned about how Eskom will approach negotiations after unbundling:
