Eskom strike after wage talks falter

The National Union of Mineworkers said yesterday that 10% of its 15 000 members at Eskom had embarked on a strike after wage negotiations failed.

The union’s Eskom energy sector coordinator, Paris Mashego, said NUM members had downed tools at Thuthuka‚ Matla‚ Dover and Arnot power stations but warned about the possibility of a fullblown strike by tomorrow.

Eskom spokesman Khulu Pasiwe said employees were not supposed to go on strike as the power utility was classified as an essential service.

“Human resource processes will unfold for people involved in the unprotected strike‚” Pasiwe said.

Eskom received reports at 2am yesterday that a road leading to Arnot power station in Mpumalanga had been blocked.

Pasiwe said police had unblocked the road and brought the situation under control.

“People who are meant to go to work are at work. All 27 power stations are operating at this stage,” he said. But Eskom is concerned about staff on late shifts. “When people go on strike‚ they sometimes intimidate others. Dealing with intimidation falls within the ambit of the police‚” Pasiwe said.

Employees are demanding a 12% wage increase for the highest-paid staff and 13% for the lowestpaid‚ to be allowed to sell service and occasional leave and they want the housing allowance to be increased from R2 600 a month to R5 000 a month.

Eskom has offered employees a 7% increase.