Eskom unions

Embattled power utility Eskom is keeping a close eye at the rising cost of fuel. Photo: Stock Image / Pixabay

NUM: Situation at Eskom to improve following wage talks

Eskom staff have been on strike over wages, something the power utility has blamed on having to implement stage 6 load shedding

Eskom unions

Embattled power utility Eskom is keeping a close eye at the rising cost of fuel. Photo: Stock Image / Pixabay

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) says it expects the country’s power situation to return to normal should striking employees at Eskom accept the power utility’s latest wage offer.

The NUM along with other unions representing the power utility met with Eskom as part of the Central Bargaining Forum (CBF). Workers have been on strike over wages. The meeting comes not long after wage talks between both parties had reached a dead lock. Eskom has tabled a 7% wage increa across the board, which is still being considered.

The industrial action at the state-owned entity has contributed to the rolling blackouts, which are expected to continue at least for the next week.

UNIONS TO MEET WITH ESKOM ON TUESDAY

The NUM’s spokesperson Livhuwani Mammburu has told SABC News they expect things to improve at Eskom.

“We expect the situation to normalise after this offer by Eskom. Eskom presented the new offer of 7% across the board. They also gave us the housing allowance of 00 so those are some of the key issues that they have agreed,” Mamburu said.

Meanwhile NUMSA, whose members were also on strike, has noted the importance of the wage talks with the utility and how they affect the country, given that they have been blamed for the power utility being forced to ramp up load shedding to stage 6. The union said it will be meeting with the parastatal on Tuesday, 5 July 2022, to give feedback.

“We understand that the entire country is watching these talks with keen interest because resolving this is in the public interest, and there is a lot of pressure for us to give a response right away. However, we ask for the public’s patience because we are a worker controlled union. We have a duty to consult members first, before we give a formal response to Eskom,” said NUMSA general secretary Irvin Jim.

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