Loadshedding
Eskom wage negotiations set to resume in June
The state power utility has made an announcement. Eskom wage negotiations will resume with trade unions in June. Eskom, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), and Solidarity, finished three rounds of negotiations without reaching an agreement.
While the negotiations typically occur over three sessions of three days each, all parties have agreed to conduct a fourth round of talks on 13 and 14 June 2023. As a result, all parties are hopeful that they can reach a settlement at the Central Bargaining Forum (CBF) to benefit Eskom and the country.
Eskom has stated that the negotiations have made relatively good progress since they began in April, with some significant movements. Initially, NUM and NUMSA requested a 15% salary increment, while Solidarity requested 10.1%. Eskom responded with a 3.75% offer, which they later increased to 4.5%. Despite the revisions and Eskom’s final offer of 5.25%, all trade unions rejected it. However, a settlement was reached on the amendment of the Grievance and Disciplinary Procedures.
Also read: Unions negotiate Eskom wage on Wednesday
Amid these negotiations, Eskom has had to implement load-shedding measures. Stage 6 load shedding will begin from 4 pm until 5 am on Tuesday, followed by Stage 4 load shedding until 4 pm, with the pattern repeating until further notice. The decision to ramp up the stage was due to delays in returning ten generating units to service, forcing Eskom to adjust its load-shedding strategy.
As Eskom prepares to resume wage increase negotiations, the ongoing challenges of load shedding highlight the importance of addressing the power utility’s financial and operational issues while ensuring fair compensation for its employees.
Source: Eskom wage negotiations to resume in June
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