Johannesburg - Members of the biggest union at South Africa’s power utility plan to broaden a strike to more plants across the country even after the company obtained a court order against the stoppage.
All 15 000 members of the National Union of Mineworkers at Eskom Holdings, or about a third of its employees, are expected to join a strike that started at four plants on August 8, spokesman Livhuwani Mammburu said by phone Wednesday. Labor law considers work at the utility an essential service, which doesn’t allow such actions.
The Labor Court granted Eskom an order against the stoppage Tuesday, Khulu Phasiwe, a spokesman for the utility, said by phone. “People are not allowed to go on strike, they’re not allowed to picket, they’re not allowed to march.”
The utility, which supplies about 95 percent of power to Africa’s most-industrialised economy, has said it has contingency plans for a strike, and operations are proceeding as normal. Since the walkout started on Monday, the NUM again lowered its highest pay demand to 10 percent and Eskom has raised its offer to as much as 9 percent.
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The two sides are expected to meet at 10 a.m. Wednesday, according to Phasiwe. NUM negotiators Helen Diatile and Paris Mashego didn’t immediately return calls seeking comment.
Eskom has noticed some incidents of protest, including people trying to block a road to the Matla power station, which have been dealt with, Phasiwe said. “If this things continue forever it might have a bearing on our operations, but so far everything is proceeding as normal.”
BLOOMBERG