About 94 percent of Eskom employees are of the opinion that the company is not doing enough to retain skills, trade union Solidarity said on Tuesday.

Announcing the findings of a study undertaken into job satisfaction among the South African power utility's employees, Solidarity said a staggering 72 percent of Eskom employees were thinking of leaving the company.

"Poor salaries and unfair appointments are cited as the main reasons for this decision," said Solidarity, adding that 73 percent of respondents felt that Eskom was not doing enough to limit unplanned maintenance.

"According to the employees, the high levels of unplanned maintenance are the result of inadequate preventative maintenance, poor planning and a lack of skills, as well as wrong appointments and incompetence," the trade union said.

The study also found that Eskom workers held the company's management accountable for the electricity crisis.

"Eskom management is accused of being incompetent and incapable of proper planning," the union added.

Solidarity deputy general secretary Dirk Hermann said the findings should sound a warning bell for Eskom.

The survey was conducted among Solidarity members, including employees at technical and junior management levels.

"If the employees carry out their threats to leave, the company may be facing an even greater crisis than the one in which it already finds itself. Eskom should come up with an urgent plan to ensure loyalty in its labour force, to appoint competent staff and to offer better pay and fair opportunities for promotion," advised Hermann.

The study forms part of the trade union's submission to the National Energy Regulator regarding Eskom's proposed rates increase, and will be highlighted at the public hearings held later this month.

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