While Eskom heads rake in about R35-million a year, a large number of the company’s general workers could be out of pocket.
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), Solidarity and the National Union of Metalworkers South Africa (Numsa) are protesting against Eskom’s implementation of a new job-grading programme late last year. The system could see a large portion of workers’ salaries ‘freeze†over coming years.
The new scaling system, or Tuned Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (Task) programme, designates a number of staff as above the maximum salary scale for their roles. As such, they may not qualify for annual pay increases, says Bennie Blignaut, general secretary at Solidarity.
The unions have declared a dispute with Eskom at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration.
Task was implemented without consensus from all the unions representing Eskom employees. This, the unions claim, amounts to Eskom unilaterally changing the basic conditions of employment for its staff.
More than 900 employees are deemed to be above the maximum salary scale for their role so their salaries could stay unchanged until they come in line with applicable scales. But, according to Numsa, this number could be much higher.
‘Out of 25 000 employees in the bargaining unit, only 2 000 look to benefit from the scheme,†says Numsa shop steward Phutas Tseki.
The grading system will affect workers across the board, says Blignaut, including scarce-skills job holders. But it will also affect staff crucial to the already strained operation of the national grid — shift workers and technicians at power stations and operators at Eskom’s national control.
‘From our initial assessment only a small fraction of people will benefit from Task,†says NUM spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka. ‘Quite clearly such a backdoor policy being implemented cannot be good for morale.â€
The Mail & Guardian requested comment from Eskom, but it had not responded at the time of going to press.
