Unions unhappy with Eskom wage offer
The first round of wage negotiations between Eskom and unions has failed to reach an agreement.
At the end of the three-day talks on Friday the power utility had offered a 3,7% salary increase, while unions representing workers there would not budge from their 15% demand.
Unions NUM, NUMSA and Solidarity released a statement to give an update on the first round of negotiations.
"Eskom has tabled an offer of 3,75% wage increase. Eskom has rejected our demands and further said that the conditions of services must remain unchanged. All the three unions have rejected Eskom's offer of 3,75% because the offer is below the inflation rate of 7,1%."
National Union of Mineworkers' Livhuwani Mammburu says they are still hopeful of getting what they are asking for during second-round talks.
"All three unions have called on Eskom to sign a multi-year wage agreement, of two years, so that we can have an opportunity to stabilise the power utility."
The next round of wage talks will begin on 8 May.
