South Africa's biggest union, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), said today its members at state power utility Eskom may strike as from next over wage demands.
The NUM has the biggest number of workers represented by any union at Eskom with about 16,000 members. It said its members had agreed to take part in mass action across the country starting next Monday, culminating in a complete stayaway.
"There will be a complete shutdown of power across the country," the NUM's spokesman, Lesiba Seshoka said.
The NUM and two other unions are demanding a 14 percent wage rise, while Eskom has offered an 8 per cent increase.
Under South African labour law, Eskom is classified as an essential service and therefore a large majority of its staff cannot strike.
But Mr Seshoka said the NUM's members were angry over the wage issue, and were prepared to get fired by Eskom.
Reuters