SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/ SOCCER: Thousands of South African construction workers halt work on 2010 World Cup stadiums over wages.

Record ID: 339309

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/ SOCCER: Thousands of South African construction workers halt work on 2010 World Cup stadiums over wages.
  • Date: 10th July 2009
  • Summary: SOUNDBITE (English) PIET MATOSA, NATIONAL UNION OF MINEWORKERS DEPUTY PRESIDENT, SAYING : "Well, 2010 is going to benefit all of us. It's not that we are insensitive to the 2010 projects, but that doesn't mean we have to sacrifice or compromise everything more, especially in the construction industry. We hope that with the engagements that are taking place behind the scene
  • Embargoed: 25th July 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Industry,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA36X4N9857FEQAOFDGCOZCRIQH
  • Story Text: South African construction workers begin an indefinite strike, halting work at stadiums being built for the 2010 World Cup.
    In the biggest industrial action since new President Jacob Zuma took office in May, South African construction workers began an indefinite strike on Wednesday (July 8) halting work at stadiums being built for the 2010 World Cup.
    The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said the action by about 70,000 workers would continue until employers gave in to their demand for a 13 percent pay rise. The companies have so far refused to go beyond 10 percent.
    "Well, 2010 is going to benefit all of us. It's not that we are insensitive to the 2010 projects, but that doesn't mean we have to sacrifice or compromise everything more, especially in the construction industry. We hope that with the engagements that are taking place behind the scenes then we'll end up coming to an agreement very soon," NUM Deputy President Piet Matosa told Reuters.
    Escalating strike action is a major challenge for Zuma, who has to balance the demands of the union and leftist allies who helped bring him to office while keeping market-friendly policies at a time when Africa's biggest economy is in its first recession in 17 years.
    The union, South Africa's largest, said most of its members in the building sector had joined the protest at stadium sites and other big infrastructure projects.
    South Africa's powerful COSATU trade union federation fully backed the strike, saying it was as passionate about the World Cup as anyone but would not tolerate stadiums being built by workers who were underpaid or in unhealthy conditions.
    Officials have said the 10 World Cup stadiums, half of them new, will be delivered by December, although there have been reports of possible delays at the venue in Cape Town.
    Work also stopped on the mass transit Gautrain high-speed rail project.
    "We are not targeting any particular project for the purpose of bringing it down. We are all demanding a living wage and if in the process it becomes a casualty, it's unfortunate," said Bongi, a NUM representative.
    Scores of striking workers danced and sang at the site of a new station in Johannesburg's Sandton financial district.
    Unions across sectors have demanded double-digit pay hikes as inflation declines at a slower pace than previously expected after peaking above 13 percent in August last year.
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