BusinessLive reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), which represents the majority of workers at embattled power utility Eskom, has lowered its wage demands from 15% to 12%.

Representatives of the NUM, the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa), Solidarity and Eskom management met at the central bargaining forum for a second round of talks from Monday to Wednesday this week. The last round of talks will run from 23 to 25 May. NUM’s Olehile Kgware said the union was “persuaded by a presentation on Eskom’s finances. We felt that we needed to negotiate in good faith and lowered our demands to 12%. We are now of the view that the organisation can sustain the percentage that we want.” At a joint media briefing in April, the three unions indicated that Eskom’s pay offer amounted to 3.75%, which they had rejected. The NUM and Numsa initially wanted a 15% pay rise, while Solidarity’s demand was for an increase of 3% above the average inflation rate, which advanced to 7.1% in March from 7% in February. Kgware now indicated: “Eskom did not put any revised offer on the table. The coming round of talks is the last one in terms of the bargaining agreement. But there is a discretionary period that can be given in the event parties feel they can engage further.” Solidarity’s Tommy Wedderspoon said: “We are still demanding 10.1%. We were actually dumbstruck that they [Eskom management] didn’t revise their wage offer. We hope they will do so in the last round of talks.” Numsa’s spokesperson could not be reached for comment.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive

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