World Cup strike rages on
Güncelleme Tarihi:
AP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Temmuz 10, 2009 00:00
JOHANNESBURG - World Cup 2010 organizers in South Africa say a strike by construction workers entered its second day on Thursday as negotiators meet to try and resolve the standoff.
The strike has halted work on World Cup stadiums and organizers fear that a prolonged strike could derail major projects ahead of the 2010 tournament - the first World Cup on the continent.
Lesiba Seshoka, a union spokesman, says meetings are under way with the local World Cup organizing committee and government labor representatives. Workers are demanding a 13 percent pay increase but employers are offering 10.4 percent.
The historic first World Cup to be held in Africa is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors to the country next year for the monthlong event.
Thousands of workers at stadiums across the country downed tools after wage negotiations deadlocked earlier this week. The strike could delay completion of flagship projects such as the Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg and stadiums in Cape Town and Durban. Other stadiums in smaller towns have also been affected.
Lesiba Seshoka, a union spokesman, says meetings are under way with the local World Cup organizing committee and government labor representatives. Workers are demanding a 13 percent pay increase but employers are offering 10.4 percent.
The historic first World Cup to be held in Africa is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors to the country next year for the monthlong event.
Thousands of workers at stadiums across the country downed tools after wage negotiations deadlocked earlier this week. The strike could delay completion of flagship projects such as the Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg and stadiums in Cape Town and Durban. Other stadiums in smaller towns have also been affected.