South Africa’s (SA) Eskom has signed a three-year 7% wage increase with two of its labour unions, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and Solidarity.
The wage increase that will take effect in June 2026 will include an increase in the housing benefit and a once-off payment of $610.93 in each of the 3 years.
The two unions constitute 75% of Eskom staff and went on to sign with the employer despite the other union, National Union of Metalworkers of (Numsa) that has boycotted of the ceremony.
Numsa is demanding an 8% wage increase in the first year and declared a deadlock in the fourth round of wage talks.
Eskom’s Group Chief People’s Office Dr Candice Hartley says the agreement takes into consideration the operational and financial realities of running the power utility.
“It is a multi-year agreement, so starting in 2026, June this year, all the way through to 2029. And the main feature of the multi-year agreement is that with our organised labour partners, we have increased the basic salaries of our bargaining unit staff for 7%. So each year, we will increase the basic salaries for what, 7%.”
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