July 12, 2007

Electricity state-owned utility Eskom is edging on the brink of a disruptive lawful protest demonstrations, including work to rule throughout the country.

This follows another deadlock on Thursday after the parastatal refused to improve its offer. The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has demanded 9,75% increase across the board.

Eskom, meanwhile remained stuck on its 7% offer, making it impossible for our negotiators to review justified demands for higher increases. On housing subsidy, the utility also offered R500 instead of the R600 demanded by the unions.

“We are concerned that management seemingly plays dirty tricks and dilly dallying on its offer of matrix, which is a framework for additional payments to the lowest paid workers. It is not a genuine offer as it remained on the same levels with salary discretionary management programme increases,” Phutas Tseki, Numsa chairperson of the Eskom f shop steward council said.

The talks were held under the auspices of the Commission for Concilliation Mediation and Arbitration. But, the management also refused to consider public service levels agreement as a yardstick for this round of negotiations.

For further information contact:

Phutas Tseki, Chairman of the Eskom shop stewards council

@ 0824985840

or

Mziwakhe Hlangani, Numsa national spokesperson

Cell phone: 082 9407116

E-mail : mziwakheh@numsa.org.za