Nationwide strike at South African World Cup building sites

Some 70,000 construction workers in South Africa have gone on strike, halting work on stadiums being built for the 2010 World Cup.

Submitted by Ed on July 9, 2009

Unions are threatening to continue the strike as long as necessary if their demands for a 13% wage increase are not met. Organisers say they are confident the grounds will still be ready, unless the strike continues for months.

On Monday judges rejected a request from the employers to outlaw the strike, which unions say is indefinite. Scores of workers are outside Soccer City stadium wearing blue overalls and brandishing sticks.

"We are struggling for our country," they chanted after downing their tools at midday.

Soccer City union organiser Patrick Geqeza blamed management inflexibility for precipitating the strike.

"We feel bad about going on strike. [But] they don't want to meet us half way," he said. At present most of the workers are being paid 2,500 rand ($310; £192) a month.

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), whose members include construction workers, has rejected the 10% wage increase offer from employers.

"The government must help us, otherwise we are going to delay 2010. We will strike until 2011," NUM spokesman Lesiba Seshoka is quoted as saying.

Protesters outside Durban's Moses Mabhida Stadium were forced to disperse because their application to protest was turned down. Before they left, the NUM's Bhekani Ngcobo told workers the union would make sure that no temporary labourers were employed.

Five entirely new stadiums are being built for the World Cup, while five are being modernised. Correspondents say if the strike continues, projects such as the high-speed rail link between the airport and Johannesburg will be of greater concern than the stadiums.

Comments

christie

14 years 8 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by christie on July 9, 2009

I seriously don't get how the government can't just give them the 13% increase. Most of the ministers and officials in higher positions get paid large sums for just sitting around all day acting important. Do they even know what it's like to get paid only R2500 a month?

Jared

14 years 8 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Jared on July 10, 2009

The union seems to played this very well (excuse the pun). Such a highly visible and public deadline means they will have quite a lot of power right now. Solidarity to them, and hope the tactic may spread to others.

Steven.

14 years 8 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Steven. on July 10, 2009

Yes, high profile projects like this with definite deadlines are good places for workers to use their bargaining power.

Example, electricians on the Jubilee line extension in London which had to be finished by the year 2000 kept threatening to strike and ended up with huge wages. Unfortunately, a lot of them were subsequently blacklisted out of the industry, illegally.

davidbroder

14 years 8 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by davidbroder on July 10, 2009

Interview with Lesiba Seshoka from the NUM:
http://thecommune.wordpress.com/2009/07/10/70000-strike-for-13-pay-rise-at-world-cup-stadium-sites/

Ed

14 years 8 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Ed on July 19, 2009

Looks like they got a pretty good deal, 12% pay rise (they originally wanted 13%)..
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hHCsxlALYHyMiQbN1Ff2_wSrz95A
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8151180.stm

Ed

14 years 8 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Ed on July 19, 2009

Man those dudes love their sticks..
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/slideshow/ALeqM5hHCsxlALYHyMiQbN1Ff2_wSrz95A?index=1