Trade unions condemn Eskom for wasting time in crucial wage talks
21 June 2018
The three trade unions the National Union of Mineworkers, (NUM), the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) and Solidarity met with Eskom management today for the third day of Wage talks.
On Wednesday all three unions presented a consolidated response to Eskom’s proposal of a 4-year wage agreement, with a 4.7% wage increase for 2018, and inflation based increase for every year thereafter. Yesterday afternoon the unions responded by presenting Eskom with a detailed package which included a plan on how the power utility can turn itself around financially, whilst at the same time, meeting the wage demands of workers. Today we reconvened expecting Eskom to respond comprehensively to our proposed turn-around strategy and our wage demands. Unfortunately, the Eskom management informed us that it does not have a mandate to respond to our core demands because it must first consult the board of Eskom.
The unions are disappointed with the response from Eskom. It is unacceptable that when the entire nation is waiting with bated breath for an outcome on these wage talks, Eskom continues to play games with the process. The reason we deadlocked in the first round of wage talks two weeks ago, was precisely because the Eskom management was unable to take decisions on its own without consulting the board. It is disheartening that we find ourselves faced with exactly the same set of circumstances today.
Unions are determined and committed to engaging with Eskom and finding a speedy resolution to the dispute. The leadership of all unions have moved heaven and earth to send delegates to these talks who have the power to take decisions. We have done this because we want to remove any potential obstacles which can slow down the process of resolving the dispute and yet the board and the Group CEO of Eskom Phakamani Hadebe, continue to undermine this process by remaining absent from these crucial talks. We want to know what could be more important to them than participating in these talks and guaranteeing a speedy resolution?
We view the actions by the Eskom management and board as an insult to our members. Furthermore, Eskom is showing the public at large the middle finger by refusing to send a powered delegation which can ensure that we resolve these talks speedily. The SOE claims that workers are an essential service and yet it does not view the presence of the board at these talks as ‘essential’. If there are power outages, they are quick to place the blame on our members when they have demonstrated complete disdain for the process. We condemn the Eskom board for refusing to take this process seriously!
WHAT IS TO BE DONE?
Unions have resolved to allow Eskom to go back to consult with the board. However, our patience is wearing thin. We demand that they send a powered delegation for the next meeting which is set down for Wednesday June 27 – Friday June 29th.
Trade unions remain committed to maintaining a united position. We are doing all we can to save Eskom from the financial crisis it finds itself in. Our proposal contains solutions which will allow the power utility to be sustainable in the long term, and which we believe, will prevent mass retrenchments. We salute our members for their militant discipline, and ask them for their patience as we wait for Eskom to respond to our consolidated demands.
Aluta continua!
The struggle continues!
Issued by NUM, NUMSA, and Solidarity, 21 June 2018
