NUM sticks to Eskom pay demands

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) will stick to its pay demands when meeting Eskom at the CCMA, the union said on Wednesday.

 

"As far as we are concerned, it will be do or die tomorrow. We reject the 5.6 percent with the contempt it deserves. We reject the five-year proposals and the big-headed attitude adopted by the parastatal," said NUM chief negotiator Helen Diatile.

 

"We remain unshakeable on our demands and we will not, and [will] never, accept Eskom's insult," Diatile said.

 

The NUM would meet Eskom at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration on Thursday, following a dispute declared by the parastatal after the union rejected its 5.6 percent wage offer during negotiations.

 

Eskom also proposed a five-year wage deal in opposition to the NUM's one year proposal.

 

The NUM wants a R3200 wage increase for the lowest paid workers at Eskom. Other wage demands differ according to the grades up the corporate ladder.

 

- Sapa