Eskom signs 3-year wage deal with 2 unions, Numsa rejects deal
Eskom concludes a 3-year wage agreement with NUM and Solidarity, while Numsa rejects offer.
Black News 
Eskom has signed a three-year wage agreement with two of its labour unions, the National Union of Mineworkers and Solidarity.
The agreement includes a 7% annual salary increase over three years, starting from July 2026, along with increases in housing benefits and a once-off payment of R10 000 for each year.
The two unions represent more than 75% of Eskom employees and have agreed to the deal, making it binding on all workers within the bargaining unit.
However, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa has rejected the offer and declared a deadlock, demanding an 8% increase in the first year.
Eskom’s Chief People Officer, Dr Candice Hartley, says the agreement reflects the utility’s financial position.
“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 7%. So it’s a 3-year multi-year agreement with an increment of 7% year on year… it was really disappointing for us as a management team when on the final day of the 4th round, a deadlock was reached with Numsa,” said Hartley.
She says Eskom attempted to engage Numsa on its demands.
“As I said earlier, the Numsa membership within the collective bargaining agreement is important. However, we try to understand the premise of the demands and how we could meet them. But as a management team, when we put the final offer on the table, and we took organised labour through it, and we explained the business and operational and financial rationale for that offer,” she added.
Eskom says the agreement provides stability and predictability for its operations and supports its cost management strategy.
WATCH | The National Union of Mineworkers has accepted Eskom’s 7% wage offer following a tense fourth round of wage negotiations. It follows months of deliberation at the Central Bargaining Forum, where the NUM originally demanded a 15% hike, alongside improved benefits. pic.twitter.com/hQNQRExPYU
— SABC News (@SABCNews) April 15, 2026
Eskom concludes three‑year wage agreement following Central Bargaining Forum process pic.twitter.com/uViomXKiJs
— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) April 17, 2026
