The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) will hold a National Eskom Shop Stewards Council meeting on Friday to deliver feedback on the union’s Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) dispute with the power producer as well as to discuss its programme of action going forward.

The NUM earlier this month rejected Eskom’s 5.6% a year salary increase offer, on a three-year agreement, demanding a one-year agreement with a 12% increase.

Following this rejection the matter had been referred to the CCMA in terms of the dispute resolution process of the recognition agreement Eskom had with the trade unions.

As Eskom’s operations were seen as an essential service, its employees were prohibited from participating in any form of industrial action and any such industrial action would be regarded as unprotected. However, the NUM had previously indicated that should its members embark on a wildcat strike the union would not try to stop them.