Eskom dispute statement 20-06-07

 

NUMSA, NUM, & Solidarity PRESS STATEMENT

You may or may not be aware that three trade unions (NUMSA, NUM, & Solidarity) appeared at the CCMA yesterday, 20 June 2007. The sitting was in relation to the dispute the trade unions declared with Eskom on the Minimum Service Agreement (MSA).

The employer is demanding maximum service agreement while trade unions are demanding minimum service agreement in terms of the LRA.

The employer is again playing its notorious delaying tactics by raising a jurisdictional point against the CCMA. In terms of the law Eskom should have made the application a long time ago.

The employer is saying that they acknowledge that trade unions can refer disputes of interest to the CCMA. While the employer acknowledges that the MSA is a dispute of interest, they do not know where this dispute should be referred, yet say it cannot be to the CCMA.

The employers' interest is that the jurisdictional point should delay the arbitration award, which will in turn derail the planned rolling programme of action from the trade unions, starting on 4 July 2007. Workers will refuse to fall into this and Eskom will not disturb the planned possible strike in the absence of any substantial offer on the table, being:

· 12% increase on wages

· One year term

· Pension fund benefits

· Housing of R1 500.00 a month per employee.

Trade union wants to apologise in advance for the electricity disruption that may be experienced by business, municipalities and government institutions.

We are determined to negotiate a Minimum Service Agreement (MSA) with the employer. The interest of the country is in the hearts of workers.

Contacts

Mosanku P. Tseki : 082 498 5840 Numsa

Job Matsepe : 083 537 9338 Num

Benie Blignut : 082 419 4194 Solidarity