Johannesburg - Eskom was applying for an interdict to prevent the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) from going on a national strike, a union spokesperson said on Tuesday.

The national power utility launched the application on Tuesday afternoon to stop 16 000 Eskom workers from going on strike, Shane Choshane said.

"We are awaiting the outcome at the moment."

He said the union planned a march to the Eskom head office in MegaWatt Park in Johannesburg on Wednesday, and NUM members would strike at Eskom power plants "wherever they are".

Some workers apparently started striking at Eskom plants on Tuesday, but Choshane couldn't say how many downed tools.

Eskom's media desk did not want to confirm that the company was applying for an interdict, but said they would release a statement on the matter later on Tuesday night.

Eskom is responsible for providing power during the soccer World Cup, scheduled to start in 16 days.

Unveiling its plans and preparations for the event in Germiston on Monday, Eskom's Erica Johnson, chief officer of customer network business, said the parastatal was not aware of any strike plans. No contingency measures had been put in place should the union go on strike, she added.

"We are an essential services industry and strikes are not allowed in this industry."

She said Eskom leaders met with NUM representatives over the weekend and they "recommitted themselves" to their central bargaining process and that "normal salary negotiations" would continue on Thursday.

Choshane said union members had indicated they "cannot sit for 2010 negotiations as the previous issues have not been resolved yet".

He said their 18 percent wage increase demand was not even a consideration for the strike, as issues related to a strike last year, which was suspended to start negotiations with management, were still unresolved.

He said the company was previously presented with a strike notice, and the union saw the action as a protected strike. They would however take a court order into consideration and present the facts to their members before going on strike.

"If the Labour Court says it is illegal, we will tell our members (the strike) is not protected and we will see if they still want to strike."

He said most of their members indicated by Tuesday night they wanted to strike.

"It is impossible to approach Eskom on any issue, because all they say is that they are essential services and they are not allowed to strike," Choshane said.

- Sapa

Eskom workers march

2010-05-26 14:23

Johannesburg - Eskom workers gathered outside Megawatt Park in Johannesburg on Wednesday to hand over a memorandum of demands, flouting a court interdict preventing strike action.

"Unfortunately, not all the workers received the information [about the court interdict]," said National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) spokesperson Shane Chosane.

"The workers will be marching to the main gate to present a memorandum to Eskom management. We have asked Eskom management to receive the memorandum...and they are going to receive the memorandum."

An official at Eskom's media desk said more than 20 buses had arrived at the Megawatt Park office in Sunninghill, Johannesburg, transporting around 1 500 workers.

Eskom was granted an eleventh-hour court interdict on Tuesday evening preventing the NUM workers from going on a national strike.

Choshane said the union would now look at "further engagement" to resolve outstanding matters.

He said weekend talks with Eskom had produced some results.

The matters discussed in an attempt to prevent the strike included the rights of shop stewards and health and safety regulations.

Choshane said agreements were reached on these issues.

The only outstanding matter was a housing allowance for workers.

"They want a R5 000 housing allowance added to their benefits," said Choshane.

Further talks with Eskom were scheduled to take place on Wednesday and Thursday. These would include salary negotiations for 2010.

- SAPA

Johannesburg - The National Union of Mineworkers' (NUM) leaders have voted to go on strike at Eskom from next week.

"They've taken a decision to go on strike. They will mobilise (Wednesday) and go on strike from next week," spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said on Tuesday.

The decision was taken despite the possibility that a strike may be illegal.