The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) has rejected Eskom’s wage offer of 7% in years 1,2 and 3.
Irvin Jim, NUMSA General Secretary, said at a briefing held in Johannesburg, on Tuesday, that the current offer “is a sham, and openly undermining collective bargaining processes.”
Jim said Eskom started negotiations back in October 2025, instead of April 2026.
He also said Eskom is in a better financial position than where it was previously.
In addition, the state utility paid exorbitant bonuses to its executives, of more than R2 million.
The union demands a 9% increase.
Last week, NUMSA applauded Eskom and the smelting sector for the newly approved electricity tariff, of about 62 cent kilowatt per hour, to the National regulator (NERSA).
Jim said about that “NUMSA as the union has been the architect and has consistently championed that the smelting industry must be given a competitive electricity tariff so that we stop exporting jobs to other countries that have no Chrome or Manganese.”
He also said the sector must champion beneficiation and build new sectors at the back of such minerals, to address
unemployment and poverty in our country.