Johannesburg – Embattled South African power utility Eskom said on Friday it would implement a 1.5% salary increase from July 1 and adjust some employee benefits.
This, however, goes against demands from unions for a much higher hike.
Unions rejected the offer after demanding increases of between 9.5% and 15%, above South Africa’s annual inflation of around 5%.
A previous pay dispute in 2018 led to electricity supply interruptions, and Eskom has said that could happen again.
South Africans had to endure a harsh winter this year with Eskom implementing loadshedding since the beginning of the cold season.
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), said implementing the 1.5% offer while arbitration had yet to take place was unlawful.
Follow @SundayWorldZA on Twitter and @sundayworldza on Instagram, or like our Facebook Page, Sunday World, by clicking here for the latest breaking news in South Africa. To Subscribe to Sunday World, click here.
Sunday World