THE National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has bemoaned Eskom boss Brian Molefe’s decision not to renew the coal supply contracts of some mining companies, saying this will lead to job losses.
"The NUM will embark on a massive national strike to Eskom’s head office if Brian Molefe does not address the concerns of our members," the union said on Monday.
Unemployment is high and rising and if Mr Molefe’s resistance to paying high prices for coal results in the shutdown of mines, thousands of jobs at Glencore’s Optimum colliery and Exxaro’s Arnot will be lost.
NUM deputy general secretary William Mabapa said in a statement that if Mr Molefe’s task was to shed jobs, "he must go". The union had requested a meeting with him several times and Mr Molefe had not responded.
"Our members are facing a bleak future.… This is a calamity. We view this as a serious concern, taking into account that the rate of unemployment is 25%.
"We urge Eskom to resolve its problems or differences with mining companies (rather) than to take drastic actions that will lead to massive job losses."
Eskom spokesman Khulu Phasiwe said a meeting would be held later this week between senior Eskom executives and the NUM.
Eskom had indicated it would not renew contracts of the six cost-plus mines that supplied its power stations with coal when those expired, he said. This was not the same as cancelling them.
Eskom had issued a request for proposals this year to secure coal for its Arnot power station and any mine, including Exxaro’s Arnot, could make an offer. Eskom could use more than one supplier for Arnot, if necessary.
White-collar trade union Solidarity’s head of the energy industry, Deon Reyneke, said the issue was difficult, with two sides to it.
"On the one hand, the trade unions are putting pressure on Eskom not to increase tariffs and to supply cheaper electricity, and that is what Mr Molefe is doing.
"He is looking at the mines where coal prices are high. On the other hand, Solidarity is not happy that mines are closing down and people are losing their jobs."
Rather than striking at Eskom, Mr Reyneke advised investigating why Arnot’s coal was expensive — either because of labour costs or because the mine was ageing.
Eskom CEO Brian Molefe. Picture: MARTIN RHODES
THE National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has bemoaned Eskom boss Brian Molefe’s decision not to renew the coal supply contracts of some mining companies, saying this will lead to job losses.
"The NUM will embark on a massive national strike to Eskom’s head office if Brian Molefe does not address the concerns of our members," the union said on Monday.
Unemployment is high and rising and if Mr Molefe’s resistance to paying high prices for coal results in the shutdown of mines, thousands of jobs at Glencore’s Optimum colliery and Exxaro’s Arnot will be lost.
NUM deputy general secretary William Mabapa said in a statement that if Mr Molefe’s task was to shed jobs, "he must go". The union had requested a meeting with him several times and Mr Molefe had not responded.
"Our members are facing a bleak future.… This is a calamity. We view this as a serious concern, taking into account that the rate of unemployment is 25%.
"We urge Eskom to resolve its problems or differences with mining companies (rather) than to take drastic actions that will lead to massive job losses."
Eskom spokesman Khulu Phasiwe said a meeting would be held later this week between senior Eskom executives and the NUM.
Eskom had indicated it would not renew contracts of the six cost-plus mines that supplied its power stations with coal when those expired, he said. This was not the same as cancelling them.
Eskom had issued a request for proposals this year to secure coal for its Arnot power station and any mine, including Exxaro’s Arnot, could make an offer. Eskom could use more than one supplier for Arnot, if necessary.
White-collar trade union Solidarity’s head of the energy industry, Deon Reyneke, said the issue was difficult, with two sides to it.
"On the one hand, the trade unions are putting pressure on Eskom not to increase tariffs and to supply cheaper electricity, and that is what Mr Molefe is doing.
"He is looking at the mines where coal prices are high. On the other hand, Solidarity is not happy that mines are closing down and people are losing their jobs."
Rather than striking at Eskom, Mr Reyneke advised investigating why Arnot’s coal was expensive — either because of labour costs or because the mine was ageing.
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