NATIONAL NEWS - Cash-strapped Eskom is reportedly facing stiff demands for above-inflation wage increases by labour unions.
This comes as the power utility is hamstrung by debt and under-performing power stations.
According to BusinessDay, Eskom, which has debt of more than R420 billion, has been implementing load-shedding to prevent the national grid from a total collapse. It relies on government bailouts to keep operating.
The power crisis has slowed economic growth and led to job losses.
EWN reported on Sunday that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) wants Eskom to hike salaries by a hefty 15% across the board – as wage negotiations look set to start this week.
The salary hike is among more than 20 demands tabled by the union. Other demands include an increase of R7 000 in housing allowance and a standard cellphone allowance of R1 000, the report said.
“The union said it also wants an electricity allowance of R1 500 for Eskom employees, coupled with a danger allowance of R15 000.
“Added to the salary hike, NUM has called for performance bonuses to be reinstated at 25% of the annual salary, after incentives for some workers were scaled down almost five years ago,” the report said.
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