Cape Town – Eskom, says it expects to resume wage increase negotiations with trade unions in June.
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), and Solidarity concluded three rounds of negotiations without reaching an agreement.
The three major trade unions rejected the company’s revised pay rise offer of 5.25% in the third round of talks.
The unions have been in negotiations with Eskom since April.
Eskom had initially offered 3.75% and later increased it to 4.5% before reaching the final offer of 5.25%.
The unions cited high food inflation, rising costs of fuel and basic goods, and increased interest rates as reasons for rejecting the offer.
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A fourth round of negotiations will be held on June 13 and 14, with the hope of reaching a settlement at the Central Bargaining Forum.
“As a custom, the negotiations take place over three sessions of three days each. However, this year, all parties agreed to hold a fourth round of negotiations on 13 and 14 June 2023, with the view that there are prospects of reaching a settlement at the Central Bargaining Forum (CBF).
“Eskom is hopeful that it and the labour unions will find each other for the benefit of the company and in the best interest of the country,” Eskom said.
The power utility added: “NUM and NUMSA opened the negotiations with a request for a 15% salary increment, while Solidarity requested 10.1%. Eskom responded with a 3.75% offer, which was later increased to 4.5%. The first and second rounds took place on 19 to 21 April and on 8 to 10 May 2023.
“During this round of negotiations, which began on 23 May 2023, NUM and NUMSA revised their demands to 11% and 12% respectively, whilst Solidarity revised its demand to 9.5%. On Wednesday, 24 May 2023, Eskom revised its offer and made a final offer of 5.25%.
“Eskom’s final offer was rejected by all trade unions. However, all parties reached a settlement on the amendment of the Grievance and Disciplinary Procedures,” Eskom said.
Meanwhile, rolling power cuts have been escalated to stage 6 in the evenings.
This kicked in from 16:00 on Monday until 05:00 on Tuesday. Daytime load-shedding will be at stage 4 between 05:00 and 16:00 on Tuesday.
Stage 6 loadshedding will be implemented from 16:00 this afternoon until 05:00 on Tuesday.
Thereafter, Stage 4 loadshedding will be implemented from 05:00 until 16:00 on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/j5SR8DPJBk— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) May 29, 2023
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
