The same day Eskom celebrated keeping the lights on, their workers went on strike.
Yesterday the power utility announced that it’s been a year since loadshedding.
But celebrations were kort en kragtig because Eskom workers affiliated to the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) on Monday downed tools after wage negotiations broke down over the weekend at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
NUM is demanding a negotiable salary increase of 12 percent for the highest paid employees and 13 percent for the lowest-paid workers but Eskom is sticking to its guns at seven percent.
NUM’s Eskom energy sector coordinator, Paris Mashego says: “We know that Eskom says this is an illegal strike because its workers are part of essential services, but our members are tired of waiting for the employers while they are dragging their feet on this matter.”