The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa’s (Numsa’s) employees working at State-owned power utility Eskom will stage a protest march on July 2, in support of the union’s wage and other demands after negotiations reached a deadlock.

According to a report by Reuters, Numsa’s 11 000 members at Eskom would also consider embarking on a wildcat strike if the issues pertaining to the negotiations were not resolved.

The Numsa national executive committee (NEC) on Thursday said it would not be deterred by the “so-called essential service provisions behind which Eskom is hiding”.

“This is no empty threat. We are not intimidated by threats of the illegality of our actions in Eskom or the threat of mass dismissals,” the Numsa NEC said.

Numsa’s demands included a one-year wage agreement, with a 12% increase across the board, a R1 000 housing allowance, a 16% productivity incentive and R100 standby allowance.

Meanwhile, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) earlier this week also rejected Eskom’s 5.6% salary increase offer, on a three-year agreement, demanding a one-year agreement with a 12% increase.

Eskom on Thursday told Engineering News Online that as salary negotiation matters were confidential it would, therefore, not disclose details regarding the negotiations; however, the utility did confirm that the parties could not reach an agreement on salary increases and conditions of service.

Therefore, the matter would now be referred to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) in terms of the dispute resolution process of the Recognition Agreement Eskom had with the trade unions. The CCMA would then arrange mediation proceedings to deal with this matter. 

Further, Eskom also confirmed that, as its operations were seen as an essential service, employees were prohibited from participating in any form of industrial action and any such industrial action would be regarded as unprotected.