NUM to picket against new Eskom CEO
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) plans to picket on new Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter’s first day in office.
De Ruyter is due to start his new job on January 15.
The union is disgruntled about recent developments at the debt-laden utility and has been especially vocal about its opposition to the planned unbundling of the power utility.
NUM energy sector coordinator Paris Mashego says other unions have also agreed to join the picket.
Mashego says De Ruyter does not have the relevant skills to run an engineering company.
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"Together with the National Union of Metalworkers and to some extent Solidarity, we are in discussion to have a workers strike to be launched on the 15th when De Ruyter reports to Eskom. We will be welcoming him because we know he, not an engineer, he doesn't have relevent skills to run an engineering company.
"He is a lawyer, he has been employed by government to separate Eskom.”
Mashego says the union demands solutions to the problems facing the cash strapped utility.
"Separation is not a solution".
Mashego vows the march will be the first of many and that the unions are also planning other go-slows and stay-aways.