Unions tell Eskom not to blame the workers
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) says it is disturbing that Eskom is blaming workers for Thursday night's load shedding.
NUM's Livuwani Mammburu reacted to comments by the power utility that striking workers intimidated those who wanted to keep the lights on, but were threatened.
Workers embarked on industrial action in reaction to the announcement by Eskom that there will be no wage increases fornthe current financial year.
The union adds workers are not responsible for the corruption and mismanagement of billions of rands.
"Our members work very hard to keep the lights on, but it is unacceptable that our members have to be blamed when they are demanding salary increases," says Mammburu.
The NUM has described new Eskom CEO Phakamani Hadebe as 'stubborn' and 'he bulldozes workers.'
Mammburu says Hadebe will not succeed in intimidating workers.
"Workers are going to fight to the bitter end... he is going to leave Eskom very soon because he was just appointed this month and our workers have indicated they do not want him."
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On Thursday, Eskom obtained an urgent court interdict barring unions from striking.
National Union of Metalworkers SA (Numsa) has described the action by Eskom to obtain an interdict as 'dirty tactics.'
Numsa's spokesperson, Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, says the interdict was an attempt by the power utility from barring Thursday's industrial action.
"Eskom is doing everything in its power to silence our members and prevent them from excise their democratic and constitutional right to picket and express their frustration with the employer," says Hlubi-Majola.
Hlubi-Majola adds that it is outrageous for the power utility to blame workers for load shedding.
"What Eskom is doing right now is trying to undermine our struggle, they are trying to paint our members as if they are savages as if they are violent and disruptive."
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