News24 reports that three unions at Eskom have rejected the embattled power utility’s latest 4.5% wage increase offer. Eskom tabled its revised offer, which is a hike from an initial 3.75%, to the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa), the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and Solidarity at the Centralised Bargaining Forum (CBF) on Tuesday. Eskom said Numsa revised its demand down from 15% to 12%, NUM from 15% to 11% and Solidarity is still holding at 7.1% inflation plus three percentage points. “Negotiations are still continuing for the next two days inclusive of today,” Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena told News24. 

Solidarity deputy secretary general Helgard Cronje told News24 on Wednesday that despite the unions rejecting Eskom’s latest offer, it was “not all doom and gloom.” “All parties indicated that they remain committed to the current process and their main aim still remains to reach an agreement during this negotiation process. The fact that Eskom actually moved, to us is a positive sign.” He said that while Solidarity did not change its wage demand, it did adjust most of its other demands.

by Ahmed Areff