Eskom wage negotiations enter final day

21st June 2018 By: African News Agency

Eskom wage negotiations enter final day

Photo by: Creamer Media

Wage negotiations between Eskom and trade unions will on Thursday enter the final day after workers rejected the 4.7% wage offer from the embattled power utility.

Trade unions on Wednesday said they presented a consolidated wage proposal to Eskom as talks resumed for a second day this week after Eskom agreed to withdraw its 0% wage offer from the table. The unions would not divulge details of the offer, saying it was a "delicate process" which should not be negotiated in the media.

But it is believed that unions tabled a long list of demands which includes a 9% wage hike for 2018, plus 8.6% and 8.5% for the following two years. Workers also want a R1 000 housing allowance in 2018 and performance bonuses for 2017/18.

On Thursday, Eskom is expected to give feedback on the proposal made jointly by all unions. The power utility is struggling to adjust its cost structure and battling with a bloated wage bill and heavy debts of about R350-billion while being owed billions by defaulting municipalities.

A strike by workers has seen the country's energy grid come under increasing pressure, resulting in intermittent power cuts over the past few days.