Eskom sidesteps 15% wage boost call – Numsa

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has rejected Eskom’s narrative that it cannot afford above-inflation wage increases for its employees.

Numsa says it met other unions for a second round of wage talks in the Central Bargaining Forum (CBF) of Eskom from 10 to 12 May, to table their demands and get feedback.

The unions are demanding a 15% across the board wage increase, a housing allowance increase of R1 600, and a close of the apartheid wage gap.

The struggling power utility has offered an increase of between 2.7% and 4.7%, based on different zones for employees.

Numsa said Eskom has not responded to the demands of a 15% wage increase.

Instead, Eskom has responded to the outstanding demand of resolving the apartheid wage gap, or the “income differentials” but it has not tabled a proposal for the wage increase, Numsa said.

Numsa said the issue of the apartheid wage gap is an old issue.

“In 2016, an agreement was signed detailing how the gap would be incrementally narrowed over time by increasing wages. Eskom is attempting to confuse workers by making a proposal on this, but it is refusing to address the issue of the wage demand,” said Numsa.

“Let us be clear, we demand that the income differentials must be reduced, and we demand an increase in wages for the 2022-23 financial year.”

Numsa said the unions do not believe that Eskom does not have money to meet workers’ wage demands.

“We reject this with the contempt it deserves.

“We made it clear at the CBF that Eskom cannot claim poverty while they are spending billions on exorbitant primary energy costs.”

Numsa has also condemned the actions of the Eskom Group CEO André de Ruyter, who they say is undermining the CBF by communicating directly with workers.