Eskom is heading into another bruising labour dispute after workers rejected the utility’s proposed 3.5% wage increase, describing the offer as an insult. Unions representing thousands of employees are instead demanding significantly higher hikes, ranging between 10% and 15%.
Union leaders argue that Eskom cannot hope to stabilise the grid while sidelining the very workers who keep the system operating. The impasse has sparked concerns of prolonged wage negotiations at a time when the country can ill afford further instability at the power utility.
Eskom, however, says it remains open to discussions aimed at narrowing the substantial gap between its offer and the unions’ demands.