Eskom Nods to Worker Demands: 7% Wage Hike Over Three Years

Eskom, South Africa’s largest power utility, has announced an agreement to increase wages for its non-managerial employees by 7% over a span of three years.

Details of the Deal

The wage increase, which will be effective from 1st July 2023 till 30th June 2026, was brokered after months of intense negotiations between Eskom and major unions. In addition to the salary increment, the deal includes a 7% increase in housing allowances over the same period and a one-off taxable payment of R10,000 for the first two years.

Parties Involved

The collective bargaining process involved the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), and Solidarity.

Eskom’s acting CEO, Calib Cassim, expressed optimism, stating that the collective agreement will help stabilize the organization. He further noted that it would give Eskom enough time to address the urgent issues it is currently grappling with. “Interestingly, this is the first time in over ten years that we’ve managed to reach an agreement inside the negotiating room,” Cassim said.

Wage Demands vs. Financial Realities

Initially, unions had demanded a 15% wage increase, citing the cost-of-living crisis and high inflation rates. They further argued that the recent electricity tariff hike of 18.65% by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) should enable Eskom to meet their demands.

However, despite these demands being revised down to 12%, further negotiations ensued. Additional demands presented on April 19 included increases to housing and cellphone allowances, changes to medical aid coverage, and the introduction of a one-off R1,500 essential worker or danger allowance, among others.

Stability Amid Load Shedding

These wage negotiations come at a time when South Africa is grappling with its worst load shedding on record, which has inflicted frequent rolling blackouts on households and hampered businesses. Still, the predicted severe winter load shedding has yet to hit the feared stage 8.

In contrast to predictions, the power grid has stayed relatively stable, with load shedding not surpassing stage 4 – a level not seen in almost a year. Eskom had earlier issued warnings about grid pressure and potential challenges during the winter season.

Despite these concerns, this agreement signals a step towards stability for the utility’s workforce amid a time of nationwide power difficulties. As the dust settles on these negotiations, South Africans can only hope for consistent power supply and stability in the energy sector.