Unions have set the record straight on Eskom wages ‘agreement’ . Photo: @Eskom_SA / Twitter and only lines / Flickr
Eskom: NUM and NUMSA set the record straight on wages ‘agreement’
Did Public Enterprises Minister, Pravin Gordhan lie? NUM and NUMSA have set the record straight on Eskom waves ‘agreement’.
Unions have set the record straight on Eskom wages ‘agreement’ . Photo: @Eskom_SA / Twitter and only lines / Flickr
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) who represent Eskom workers say there is no agreement that has been reached over wages.
On Tuesday, 28 June for the first time in history, South Africans were subjected to Stage 6 rolling blackouts which are set to continue on Wednesday as well between from 16:00 to 22:00. Eskom said this is due to unlawful and unprotected labour action (which its workers embarked on over a week ago) which has caused widespread disruption to its power plants.
NUM AND NUMSA SETS RECORD STRAIGHT ON ESKOM STRIKE
On Tuesday, Public Enterprises Minister, Pravin Gordhan held a virtual media briefing on the state of Eskom. Gordhan said that Eskom and unions have reached an agreement over wages and is expecting workers to go back to work.
In a joint statement, NUM and NUMSA said they want to set the record straight.
“We have not come to any agreement with Eskom. An offer was tabled which members are engaging on. For the next few days, we will be consulting members to find out if they accept the proposal or not. We will meet on Friday 1 July at the Central Bargaining Forum where we will formally respond to it as parties.
“We demand that minister Pravin Gordhan withdraw his statement about an agreement immediately. He is jeopardising talks by pre-empting the outcome.”
NUM and NUMSA
The unions further said their members have not even had the chance to see the proposal yet Gordhan is rushing to the media to claim there is an agreement.
“We condemn him for his reckless behaviour. He is provoking workers at Eskom and his comments have the potential to collapse this entire negotiation process,” the unions said.
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