BusinessLive reports that Eskom has warned of load shedding this week amid sporadic industrial action by workers who staged pickets at its facilities across the country on Monday.  

The power utility has been engaged in wage negotiations with trade unions for two months and reached an impasse over bonus payments on Friday.  Eskom said in a statement on Monday that operations had been negatively impacted at several power stations due to acts of intimidation, sabotage and obstruction of access to workplaces.  Spokesman Khulu Phasiwe indicated that Eskom had activated its emergency structures, but "the risk of load shedding remains high".  The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said it was aware that its members and those belonging to the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) had engaged in pickets on Monday, but dismissed claims that the workers were responsible for disruptions at the plants.  Eskom employees are categorised as essential service and cannot take part in strikes.

• Read this report by Theto Mahlakoana in full at BusinessLive
• Read too, Load-shedding likely this week‚ Eskom warns amid worker ‘intimidation’, at Timeslive
• Read Eskom’s press statement at Eskom News

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page