Electricity workers threaten strike in week of World Cup final

Jul 1, 2010, 14:27 GMT

Johannesburg - The head of South Africa's state electricity supplier Eskom on Thursday appealed to Eskom workers not to proceed with a threatened strike in the final week of the World Cup, saying to do so would play into the hands of South Africa's critics.

'There were critics who constantly said we were not going to be able to host the FIFA World Cup and they have been proven wrong,' Eskom CEO Brian Dames said.

'My plea to the trade unions is for them not to go on strike at this point ... or even later ... and put South Africa on the spot,' he was quoted by the South African Press Association as saying.

On Wednesday, two unions representing a majority of Eskom workers - the National Union of Mineworkers and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa - issued strike notices for next week.

They have not yet announced a strike date. Four World Cup matches are scheduled for next week, including the final on Sunday, July 11.

Weeks of wage negotiations between Eskom and the unions have ended in deadlock. Eskom is offering the workers an 8.5 per cent wage increase. The unions want 9 per cent. The two sides also disagree over the amount of a housing allowance.

A strike would likely affect maintenance and repair work at a time when parts of South Africa are already experiencing sporadic blackouts.

Eskom has promised to do everything in its power to keep the lights on during the World Cup.

The utility says Eskom workers are essential services workers and that any strike would be illegal - a position the unions dispute.

Eskom employs around 30,000 people.