South Africa’s unions reject Eskom’s 6% pay offer, demanding more despite the utility’s first profit in eight years.

South Africa’s NUM and NUMSA unions have rejected Eskom’s 6% pay offer, calling it insufficient despite the utility’s first annual profit in eight years and improved performance after years of power cuts. The unions, which helped stabilize the grid, demand higher increases—NUM at 12%, well above the 3.6% inflation rate—while Eskom seeks a new multi-year agreement following a prior 7% annual raise deal. Talks resume Thursday, with Solidarity declining to comment.