BDLive reports that hundreds of National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) members picketed outside Eskom’s Megawatt Park headquarters on Tuesday, threatening to down tools to get the power utility to improve on its 7% wage offer.  

The union says it will down tools on Monday, despite the power utility’s status as an essential service.  The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) facilitated a meeting of the parties last Monday, but no agreement was reached.  Eskom spokesman Khulu Phasiwe said on Tuesday the CCMA was yet to give arbitration dates, but it was hoped the parties would meet on Thursday or Friday.  The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has said it will consult its members about Eskom’s failure to up its offer during conciliation, and has likewise said it is willing to go on strike.  Solidarity has expressed the hope that the parties will find each other during arbitration.

• Read this report by Karl Gernetzky at BDLive

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