Labour unions picket Eskom office in wage dispute

Hundreds of union members picketed outside the headquarters of Eskom on Thursday because of a wage dispute which has hurt the cash-strapped South African power utility's ability to deliver electricity to Africa's most industrialised economy. Labour unions, angered by Eskom's failure to raise salaries as it embarks on a cost-cutting drive, have threatened a "total shutdown" of Eskom's operations if the utility does not cede to their demands to raise salaries by 15%.