Eskom's decision to stop salaries for six employees who work for Lobedu Contact Centre at its head office Megawatt Park is cruel, heartless and inhuman

Press Statement, 05 April 2022

Eskom's decision to stop salaries for six employees who work for Lobedu Contact Centre at its head office Megawatt Park is cruel, heartless and inhuman

The National Union of Mineworkers in the PWV Region is extremely disturbed and concerned that Lobedu Contact Centre Department Manager at Eskom Head Office Megawatt Park gave instruction to stop the salaries of six employees. The manager alleges that they refuse to take instruction to answer technical calls and are not reporting to work. The manager also alleged that the employees go awol. 

"There was no proper consultation with organised labour when the manager decided to stop the salaries of the employees in February up to now. The allegations by the manager are not true. The employees who are members of the NUM said they log in to the system and log out at the end of the day. Our members have been reporting on duty," said Bonginkosi Mrasi, NUM PWV Regional Secretary.

The NUM has seen an email from the Eskom HR Department that advised the Lobedu Contact Centre Manager not to stop paying the salaries of the six employees. The email that was sent to the manager clearly states that the allegations to stop the salaries of the six employees are non-existent. The Eskom HR email clearly states that "the suspension of the employee's salaries is in violation of Eskom processes and the Labour relations Act." The Eskom HR Department further advised that the salaries of the six employees must be uplifted with immediate effect and a correct consequence management process be followed.

The NUM is deeply worried that the Lobedu Contact Centre Manager decided to deliberately disobey the advice from the Eskom HR Department to uplift the suspension of employees' salaries. 

The NUM members under the same manager also have a group grievance, but Eskom is keeping it under the carpet. The power utility is allowing the same manager to open disciplinary action against the same aggrieved employees.

"When Eskom loads sheds, Lobedu Contact Centre Manager demands that employees must pay back the lost time created by Eskom," Mrasi said.

The suspension of the employee's salaries has led to two employees being admitted to the hospital with severe depression. One of the employees said the suspension of her salary since February this year has caused severe depression. "I am breathing, but I feel dead. I have developed daily panic attacks. I have developed a hatred for my manager and lost confidence in Eskom."

The NUM is calling on Eskom to uplift the suspension of employees' salaries with immediate effect. This atrocious behaviour that is displayed by Eskom is cruel, inhuman and heartless.

For more detailed information, please contact:

Bonginkosi Mrasi, NUM PWV Regional Secretary, 078 188 4300, 064 758 0661

Livhuwani Mammburu, NUM National Spokesperson, 083 809 3257

Luphert Chilwane, NUM Media Officer, 083 809 3255

The National Union of Mineworkers
7 Rissik Street.
Cnr Frederick Johannesburg
Tel: 011 377 2111 Cell: 083 809 3257
Twitter: @Num_Media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/NUM/100860023402167