Eskom was granted an 11th-hour court interdict on Tuesday evening preventing the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) from going on a national strike.
“Eskom is an essential service and employees of an organisation classified as such are prohibited from taking part in industrial action,” the parastatal said in a statement.
Engaging in such action would be considered unlawful. If a strike did take place, Eskom had contingency plans to ensure security of supply, it said.
According to NUM spokesperson Shane Choshane, the utility launched the application on Tuesday afternoon to stop 16 000 of its workers from going on strike.
He said the union planned a march to Eskom’s head office in MegaWatt Park in Johannesburg on Wednesday, and NUM members would strike at Eskom power plants “wherever they are”.
Some workers apparently started striking at Eskom plants on Tuesday, but Choshane couldn’t say how many downed tools.
NUM spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka was not surprised by the interdict “because Eskom always hides behind its status as the essential service”.
“We will inform our members of the interdict and tell them not to go on an illegal strike. It is Eskom that will have to deal with its angry employees if they decide not to listen to us.”
Eskom said it held discussions with NUM leaders on Friday and Sunday, where both parties said they would work together within the central bargaining process. This was scheduled to take place on Wednesday and Thursday.
The parties discussed three issues in particular — full-time safety representatives, the recognition agreement and a housing allowance.
“Significant progress was made on the issues … the meetings ended on a positive note with commitment from both parties to give dialogue a chance.”
Choshane said earlier that union members had indicated they “cannot sit for 2010 negotiations as previous issues have not been resolved yet”.
He said their 18% wage increase demand was not even a consideration for the strike, as issues related to a strike last year, which was suspended to start negotiations with management, were still unresolved.
“It is impossible to approach Eskom on any issue, because all they say is that they are essential services and they are not allowed to strike,” Choshane said. – Sapa