Ignored NUM warns Eskom of 'mother of all strikes'

Eskom appears to be ignoring the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and this could lead to a massive strike, the union said on Tuesday.

“Traditionally, the NUM and other unions have always been consulted and invited to Eskom’s financial results announcement as major stakeholders at the parastatal,” the union said in a statement.

“The NUM is saddened that as a trade union that represents over 16 000 Eskom workers, it has not been invited to the presentation of Eskom’s financial results nor has it been consulted now of late.”

Eskom, which released its annual results for the year ending March 31 in Johannesburg on Monday, was not immediately available for comment on Tuesday afternoon.

The NUM accused Eskom management and Minister of Public Enterprises Malusi Gigaba of being arrogant and “advocating a new tendency of non-consultation with the trade unions”.

“The NUM vows to take Eskom and the minister on and has called on its members to organise themselves and be ready for a mother of all strike actions at the parastatal—demanding consultation and a minimum service level agreement and [because of ] the fact that its management team received a 109% increment in 2010.”

The Eskom results showed a 109% increase in executives’ salaries, it was reported on Monday.—Sapa