Eskom workers have begun preparing for a strike as early as Monday, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
“It’s going to be a build-up process, we’re going to have massive, mass actions throughout the country, then go on a stayaway,” said NUM spokesman Lesiba Seshoka.<\/p>\n
Seshoka said plans for industrial action were still tentative and would be finalised after a meeting with other Eskom unions — the National Union of Metal Workers and Solidarity — later on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
“Generally we agree that we need to take on Eskom together. We need to consolidate and hear what their members have said,” said Seshoka.<\/p>\n
Seshoka said Eskom’s wage offer of 8% had been rejected by NUM’s workers who are demanding a 14% increase. He said the unions would inform the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, where negotiations with management had taken place, of this decision on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Eskom could not immediately be reached for comment.<\/p>\n