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Eskom wage talks to resume next Wednesday

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Wage talks at power utility Eskom are set to resume next  week Wednesday,  after the power utility and unions failed to reach agreement  this week.

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) , National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa  (NUMSA) and Solidarity presented a consolidated set of demands – including a drop in their wage increase demand from 15 to nine percent.

Eskom has warned that power generation remains constrained, following last week’s wage strike and that load shedding is still a strong possibility.

NUMSA General Secretary, Irvin Jim, says the unions are unhappy that Eskom sent a delegation to the talks that did not have a mandate to respond to the reduced wage demand from the unions:

“The failure for Eskom to make sure that they have got an appropriate decision that can negotiate and take decisions on the spot does border on  Eskom bargaining on bad faith.  It took us pushing as to whether we are dealing with individuals who even have a clue on the relationship between labour and capital or unions bashers in the true sense of the word,” says Jim.

“I think the process will determine what we are dealing with here. The fundamental issue is wages. But for them to be able to respond completely, the board would apparently be able to have a full board on Monday,” he adds.

 

[Watch] Eskom wage negotiations adjourned till Wednesday

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