Pretoria - Unions at power parastatal Eskom are set to make an announcement this morning with regards to a labour dispute.
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) and Solidarity will reveal the outcomes of ongoing wage negotiations with Eskom.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Eskom's head of human resources Bhabhalazi Bulunga said that the mediation process between Eskom and the unions was continuing at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
"Eskom is concerned about the implications should the mediation stage end and a certificate of non-resolution be issued by the CCMA," he said.
The parastatal stressed that a certificate of non-resolution would not mean that unions could call a protected strike at Eskom, as has been suggested because Eskom has been declared an essential service.
"Strikes at Eskom are thus prohibited," he said, adding that this was reaffirmed by the High Court interdict obtained by Eskom on 25 May 2010.
However, the parastatal remains hopeful that agreement can still be reached.
Eskom tabled a revised conditional offer to workers which includes increased allowances.
The offer comprises three elements namely an 8 percent increase across the board on the basic salary, a 5.6 percent increase to key allowances and a R12 000 per employee once -off ex-gratia payment, paid in two equal instalments in July 2010 and July 2011.
The unions are demanding a 9 percent increase.
