The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) condemns the management of Eskom for abandoning at least 300 cleaners and gardeners who are responsible for maintaining Eskom Megawatt Park and the Eskom College in Midrand. Members of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and NUMSA picketed at Megawatt Park earlier today out of frustration to voice their anger and disappointment with how the Eskom management has handled the transfer of business process.

These are workers who were initially contracted to a company called JV Kusile to do cleaning and gardening for the power utility. The contract has now come to an end at the end of November, and what our members expected was that whoever takes over the new contract, will absorb these employees. The contract has been taken over by a new company called GTV.  In the past Eskom has transferred the business to the new contractor and the practice has been that whoever wins the tender, absorbs the same pool of workers for the new contract. There are workers who have been working for Eskom for 20 years. They are waking up to the shocking realization that they are jobless, and they have not been retrenched in terms of a proper process.

NUMSA has tried repeatedly to get Eskom manager Mr. Amos Mboweni to ensure that the transfer of business process is seamless but seemingly he has washed his hands of these workers. Even today, when workers picketed outside the gates, Mr. Mboweni refused to engage the union. Eskom claims this is a problem which must be managed by the sub-contractor, but we disagree. Eskom, has a duty to get involved in the smooth transfer of the business. Eskom is responsible for the fact that these workers suddenly find themselves unemployed, and no plan has been made to properly terminate their services.

NUMSA has lodged an application at the labour court over Eskom’s refusal to comply with the section 197 process. We are waiting for the court to give us a date for the matter to be heard. However, we demand that Eskom management must do the right thing by ensuring that these workers are absorbed immediately. They are acting unfairly and they are absolving themselves of any responsibility, when in fact, it is within their power to resolve this dispute. Our members have vowed to keep picketing until their demands are met which is why the union will be organizing another day for a picket soon, and we will invite the media.

 

Issued by NUMSA Regional Secretary, Mncedisi Kwababa