Eskom declares dispute, risk of load shedding remains
Date: Aug 16, 2018
Eskom has declared a dispute with trade unions the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) and Solidarity.
The dispute is over the precondition that unions NUM and Numsa raised as part of the wage negotiations, Eskom said on Wednesday evening.
Meanwhile, there is a risk of load shedding for the next month as the power grid recovers, the company added.
The two largest unions did not want members to be disciplined over unprotected strike action undertaken in the last month.
A mutual interest dispute has been referred by Eskom to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), Eskom said.
Last week, during a meeting convened via the CCMA, the three recognised trade unions agreed in principle to Eskom’s three-year wage proposal and conditions of employment, the power utility said.
The offer involved an increase of 7.5% in 2018/19, another 7% in 2019/20 and 7% in 2020/21, an annual cost of living (CPI) adjustment to their housing allowance as well as a once-off cash payment of R10 000.
However, the disciplinary action of members striking in July and August remained a key point of contention and parties deadlocked during talks on Wednesday.
