The three trade unions the National Union of Mineworkers, (NUM), the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) and Solidarity met with Eskom management today for the second day of wage talks.

On Tuesday Eskom made an offer of a 4-year agreement. The offer included a wage increase offer of 4.7% for 2018 and an inflation-based increase for every year thereafter for the next four years. We deliberated and debated the offer overnight and reconvened for a meeting with Eskom management today. We met with Eskom management and as the trade unions we consolidated our positions and presented our comprehensive demands to Eskom. We believe that if Eskom accepts our proposal it will rescue Eskom from the financial crisis it finds itself in, whilst also dealing with the wage demands our members have made.

We will not divulge details of the proposal we made to Eskom because this is a delicate process. We want to avoid a situation where we bargain through the media. On Thursday we hope that Eskom will give us feedback on the proposal we made jointly as all unions. If they give us positive feedback on our proposal, we may be able to take it back to our members for them to make the final decision on whether to accept the offer or not. We want to give Eskom time and space to deliberate on the proposal we have given them.

We are engaging meaningfully with Eskom and we are trying to find each other. We are very mindful of the pressure from the public and our members on the progress we are making and we are doing everything in our power to find a solution which will suit the interests of our members, and the public at large.

Furthermore, we are inspired by the unity of workers. We are working together in unison in an attempt to resolve the dispute as speedily as possible. If we remain united we can do more to ensure our members get the best possible compromise. We thank our members for their continued support and for remaining disciplined.

Aluta Continua!

The struggle continues!

Issued by the three unions NUM, NUMSA, and Solidarity.

For more information, please contact:

Livuwani Mammburu

NUM National Spokesperson

0838093257

Phakamile Hlubi-Majola

NUMSA National Spokesperson

0833767725