Solidarity launches campaign to exempt Eskom from race targets
12 March 2015
Trade union Solidarity today launched a comprehensive campaign to pressure the Department of Labour to exempt Eskom from race targets. According to the electricity giant's latest affirmative action plan, the utility's staff has to reflect the national race demography by 2020. This means Eskom has to shed 3 400 experienced white employees over the next five years.
Solidarity is of the opinion that Eskom's response to the power crisis is to persist in pursuing race targets unremittingly. "Instead of retaining and nurturing skilled and experienced employees, it wants to manage down the number of white employees through its new affirmative action plan to reach a race target that is not in touch with reality, come what may. With the support from the community we want to prevent this from happening," Johan Kruger, Solidarity's deputy head says.
As part of the campaign, members of the public can sign a petition letter objecting to Eskom's plans. The letter will be sent to Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant requesting her to exempt Eskom from its irrational race quotas in terms of section 42 (2) of the Employment Equity Act.
"In the petition letter we, on behalf of the community, request that government institutions such as Eskom, which have already been classified as essential service providers, be exempted from onerous affirmative action requirements. As a result, such organisations would then be able to appoint employees based on skills and experience and not on race," Kruger says.
Solidarity, therefore, is requesting the minister to see to it that Eskom recruits persons from the available pool of skilled workers - regardless of their race. "Race targets are not the object - the supply of electricity is. The Eskom electricity crisis is but a prelude to service delivery crises that are to follow in the delivery of other key services should the pursuit of race quotas be persisted with. The minister should be bold now and make an end to this irrationality where race trumps everything else," Kruger says.
The public can support Solidarity's campaign against Eskom's race targets by sending an SMS with the word "FREE" to 34802. People can also send petition letters directly to Minister Oliphant via the website,https://solidariteit.co.za/en/
Statement issued by Johan Kruger, Deputy Head: Solidarity and Dr Dirk Hermann, Chief Executive: Solidarity, March 12 2015
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