NUM: Eskom has 'tendency of non-consultation'

01 July 2011 - 11:36 By Sapa
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Powerlines. File photo.
Powerlines. File photo.
Image: Mark Wessels

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) accused Eskom and Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba on Friday of a "new tendency of non-consultation".

"The NUM is saddened that as a trade union that represents over 16,000 Eskom workers, it has not been invited to Eskom's financial results announcement as major stakeholders at the parastatal," NUM general secretary Lesiba Seshoka said in a statement.

"The NUM vows to take Eskom and the [public enterprises] minister on and has called on its members to organise themselves and be ready for a mother of all strike actions at the parastatal demanding consultation, a minimum service level agreement and the fact that its management team received a 109 percent [salary] increment in 2010."

After Eskom released its financial results earlier this week the state-owned entity received wide-spread criticism for huge salary increases given to its executives, while consumers were struggling to make ends meet as tariffs went up.

Seshoka said the union was being marginalised.

"The NUM condemns in the strongest words possible the arrogance of both Eskom management and the Minister of Public Enterprises, Malusi Gigaba, in advocating a new tendency of non-consultation with the trade unions on a variety of issues at Eskom," said Seshoka.

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