The National Union Of Metalworkers (Num) and electricity utility Eskom are still at loggerheads after five rounds of wage negotiations failed to produce an agreement on wage increases.
Num energy coordinator Wilkies Buthelezi told I-Net Bridge that the union had compromised by reducing its wage increase demand from 14% to 13%, but Eskom last week decided to declare a dispute with the union because they refused to accept its offer of 9%.
“We expected Eskom to move from its stance on the back of the decrease in our demand, but unfortunately we were told that they have exhausted their mandate on a final offer of 9%,” Buthelezi said.
He also accused Eskom of refusing to further negotiate with the union. Buthelezi added that Num was waiting for a date on another round of talks with Eskom after a neutral mediator instructed the parties to meet for a final time.
“At the present moment Num is meeting with all its members around the country to discuss the impasse. Members have given the union a mandate to reduce the wage demand to 12,5%.”
He said if Eskom refused the union would seek legal advice on the matter.
Num is also demanding that Eskom employ fulltime peer educators on HIV/Aids
instead of the current process of volunteers and that policy involving labour should address itself to people living with the disease while at work and when they have ceased to work.
Also on the list of Num demands is that the home-work-home transport benefit be kept for all workers and the company should cease its current unilateral action of phasing out this benefit.
According to Num, after five sessions of negotiations, the parties have only agreed to increase the death cover from R5 000 to R10 000 and on compassionate leave.
Attempts by I-Net Bridge to obtain a response from Eskom were unsuccessful. – I-Net Bridge