Solidarity: Issue of Eskom bonuses ‘not make-or-break’
Trade union Solidarity
says its members won’t accept or reject Eskom’s
wage offer based on the issue of bonuses alone.
The power utility has been locked in wage negotiations for close to a month with the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) and Solidarity.
The power utility has offered its employees 7,5% wage increase, which does not include a bonus.
NUM and Numsa have rejected the offer by Eskom and have threatened to “wage war” against the power utility.
Solidarity's Tommy Wedderspoon says its members understand that when a company does not make a profit there won’t be bonuses.
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Wedderspoon says in they will inform their workers to return to work even if the other unions refuse to sign the agreement.
"Eskom is an essential service, that’s one. The second thing is that Eskom has applied against the other trade unions and that interdict is applicable," Wedderspoon says.
Solidarity’s stance is in direct contrast to that of Numsa. Spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi says the workers have performed and fulfilled their key performance indicators.
"The dismal financial performance of Eskom had nothing to do with ordinary workers. The problems were caused by corruption and mismanagement at senior executive management level. They are punishing workers for their failures.”