Trade union Solidarity has called on other trade unions in the bargaining unit, including the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) and the National Union of Mineworkers, currently negotiating salaries with parastatal Eskom, to review their demands after the parties reached a deadlock in negotiations on Friday.

Solidarity energy industry deputy general secretary Deon Reyneke on Monday said it was evident on Friday that Eskom wanted to offer employees an increase.

“However, the other trade unions stand firm on their unaffordable demands and are, therefore, unwilling to negotiate any further,” he added.
 
Reyneke further noted that Solidarity’s demands came very close to Eskom’s salary offer and that the trade union was willing to enter into further negotiations with the employer.

“Eskom’s offer involves a salary increase on a sliding scale of between 7% and 9% for year one, and a salary increase equal to the inflation rate plus one percentage point for year two.

“Part of our demand, however, includes a salary increase of 8.75% across the board for both years, as well as an increase in members’ housing offer,” Reyneke pointed out.
 
Solidarity added that Eskom’s offer also included improvements in employees’ conditions of employment. Among other things, this included five months’ fully paid maternity leave and six months’ maternity leave at 30% remuneration.
 
“In general, we are satisfied with Eskom’s wage offer and we would like to iron out the last minor differences in order to reach an agreement as soon as possible. We believe it is crucial that all role-players should now try to reach a favourable agreement around the negotiation table that will assure the sustainability of Eskom and ensure stability in power supply,” Reyneke added.

Numsa, however, said the increase offered by Eskom was “unfair, unreasonable and insufficient.”