South Africa's NUM Says It's Prepared to Sign Eskom Wage Pact

(Bloomberg) -- South Africa’s National Union of Mineworkers resolved to sign Eskom’s three-year wage agreement provided the power utility doesn’t press ahead with its intention to discipline employees, the union said.

The union is “ready to sign the deal anytime,” NUM President Joseph Montisetse said in an emailed statement. “On the issue of taking disciplinary action against our members, we are saying the matter could be resolved outside the bargaining unit,” he said.

Eskom has agreed in principle with the unions on salary adjustments of 7.5 percent in 2018-2019 and 7 percent in both 2019-20 and 2020-2021, according to the union.

“The NUM wants to make it clear that it is against any move to dismiss any worker,” it said. Eskom declared a dispute with its biggest trade unions after they refused to sign a new wage deal unless the company agreed not to discipline workers who participated in illegal strikes. Eskom workers aren’t permitted by law to strike, but the company was forced to implement power cuts and reported damage to systems and equipment when talks stalled previously.

To contact the reporter on this story: Jacqueline Mackenzie in Johannesburg at jmackenzie9@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Alastair Reed at areed12@bloomberg.net, Liezel Hill

©2018 Bloomberg L.P.