Eskom won’t back down

Eskom yesterday vowed to take disciplinary action against workers who embarked on industrial action and damaged infrastructure as the power utility and unions failed to reach an agreement in protracted wage negotiations.

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) last week threatened to go on a massive strike at Eskom over the wage dispute, saying the stateowned electricity company was negotiating in bad faith. The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said it would only sign a deal if Eskom removed the precondition of disciplinary action.

But Eskom said in a statement that those employees who engaged in acts of destruction of property and sabotage were now outside the company’s jurisdiction and in the hands of the police.

“The company has advised unions to sign the wage agreement so as not to further prejudice employees who await their salary adjustments,” Eskom said.

“It has further advised the unions that employees who participated in unlawful action will be subjected to disciplinary hearings and where found guilty of acts of misconduct, disciplinary action will be instituted against them.

“The company urges all employees to refrain from engaging in further unlawful industrial action. The company is ready to sign and implement the wage agreement once all parties sign,” it added.

The unions have requested a meeting with Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan to try and break the deadlock, saying that they will not resume talks without the meeting. – ANA