Eskom signs two-year wage deal with unions

Eskom says it expects everything to go back to normal on Monday, after reaching an agreement with three unions following a wage dispute that led to a strike.

The parties have signed a two-year wage agreement following talks that began yesterday afternoon and lasted until the early hours of this morning. 

Eskom's Khulu Phasiwe discussed the agreement it had reached with the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM),  National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), and Solidarity. 

"We have agreed on a wage increment of between 8.5% and 10% for this year and next year. We have also agreed on a housing allowance of about R3000, which will be paid in phases between now and next year."

The power utility's lowest-paid workers will receive the 10% increase.

The wage agreement comes after the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) stepped-in on Wednesday to defuse the wage dispute between Eskom and the unions. 

This happened after Eskom obtained a court interdict on Tuesday, against 15000 striking NUM workers. 

Eskom warned that all striking workers would face disciplinary action.

However, Phasiwe stated that NUM was currently in the process of telling its members to return to work on Monday, following the newly agreed-upon wage increments.