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Num not happy with Eskom’s wage increase

Polity reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (Num) has voiced their disgust at Eskom’s decision to implement at 5.6% wage increase when an arbitration award at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) granted an arbitration award of a total cost-to-company wage increase of 6.3%.

Last year, the power utility, Num, Solidarity and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) were engaged in wage negotiations: the unions’ proposals for wage increases ranged between 20.1% and 44.3%. However, these failed (Eskom declared a dispute with the three unions) which is why the CCMA was approached. The power giant’s employees have also been declared as essential services which prohibits them from going on strike.

“NUM’s displeasure is that the increase awarded by the CCMA on basic salary is exactly what Eskom proposed and to its favour. It is clear that Eskom is no longer interested in harnessing good working relations and [is] no longer prepared to treat its employees as important stakeholder[s] and partner[s] within its confines, despite declaring them essential,” said Frans Baleni, NUM general secretary.