Union accuses Eskom of ‘Thatcherism at its best’
Unions are furious with Eskom management for referring its no-increase offer to the Commission for Conciliation‚ Mediation and Arbitration without consultation
The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has rejected an Eskom proposal to settle a wage negotiation impasse via arbitration at the Commission for Conciliation‚ Mediation and Arbitration. "To put the record straight such a decision has been made without consulting unions and as such it is rejected by Numsa‚" Numsa general-secretary Irvin Jim said. He called Eskom’s proposed wage freeze "anti-worker and Thatcherism at its best". "We have not been consulted on any arbitration process and we regard this open unilateralism as nothing less than the old union-bashing attitude. We regard it for what it is‚ adversarial‚ and it will be opposed and defeated." Wage negotiations deadlocked last week‚ leading to Numsa and the National Unions of Mineworkers (NUM) declaring disputes. The unions are demanding wage hikes of between 9% and 15%‚ but Eskom has offered no increase‚ citing financial constraints. Numsa‚ NUM and Solidarity are protesting against the wage freeze. Jim criticised Esko...
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