BusinessLive reports that the standoff between Eskom and trade unions is set to continue this week after a meeting with public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan could not be secured.  

This is despite both the power utility and the unions agreeing on wage increases.  Eskom’s decision to discipline employees involved in wildcat work stoppages is still holding up the signing of the agreement with the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).  The minister’s office confirmed he had received the joint letter from the unions on Monday requesting an urgent meeting and noted that the current dispute was being dealt with before a statutory body that had the legal authority to resolve the dispute, namely the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).  Suggesting that Gordhan would not be stepping in as yet, his spokesperson Adrian Lackay said:  "The minister hopes that all matters pertaining to the labour dispute can be resolved as expeditiously and as constructively as possible before the CCMA."

• Read this report by Theto Mahlakoana in full at BusinessLive

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