NUM Press Statement, 29 July 2016 - NUM Press Statement on Eskom wage negotiations at the CCMA

NUM Press Statement, 1 August 2016

NUM Press Statement on Eskom wage negotiations at the CCMA

On the 29th of July, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) Eskom shop stewards from all the regions of the NUM converged to discuss the wage offer by Eskom. The meeting deliberated on all the demands that were sent to Eskom soberly. While we appreciate the role played by the government towards stabilising of the company we are unhappy with the behaviour of undermining the mighty NUM by the minister of Public Enterprises.

Our demands are as follows:

· One-year wage agreement.

· 12% on maximum and 13% on minimum.

· Selling of service and occasional leave.

· Apartheid wage gap.

· Housing is R5000 per month.

The meeting concluded that the Eskom offer of 7% is an insult to the hard working Eskom workers who are keeping the light burning. These employees are the ones that are the generation, distributing and transmitting the electricity that is driving our economy. With the offer of 7%, Eskom workers will be unable to feed their families. With the increase in the housing prices, many of Eskom workers will be unable to pay for their houses and those who don’t have houses will be unable to acquire houses, that`s why we are demanding R5000 housing allowance.

The meeting was very disturbed with the attitude of Eskom in refusing to close the apartheid wage gap. After 22 years of democracy, Eskom is still paying its workers based on the apartheid system. White employees are still being paid more that black people. The meeting pronounced that this practice must immediately come to an end.

All the regions stated that they are ready to go to strike with or without the Minimum Service Agreement (MSA). Eskom is using the absence of the MSA to prevent our members from exercising their constitutional right to strike. The meeting decided that the strike will start on the 8th of August 2016.

For more information, please contact:

David Sipunzi: NUM General Secretary: 082 883 7293

Paris Mashego: NUM Eskom Energy Sector Coordinator: 079 517 1758

Livhuwani Mammburu: NUM National Spokesperson: 083 809 3257

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

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