7 Jul 2009FIFA World Cup stadium builders set to strike over pay

Football Technology and Stadia

Problems could emerge in relation to the building of the stadia ahead of the FIFA World Cup next year as workers seem set to go on strike.

More than 70,000 workers in South Africa are preparing themselves for strike action after winning a court case over wages.

Workers were looking for a 13 per cent pay rise, but employers are failing to go beyond a ten per cent wage increase.

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said in statement recently that it had won the case against the South African Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors (SAFCEC), which would successfully allow strike action.

Bhekani Ngcobo, the NUM's negotiator at SAFCEC, revealed: "Employers must expect no mercy from us, they must deliver 13 per cent or we will strike until 2011."

The news is worrying for FIFA World Cup organisers as five of the ten stadia set to be used in the tournament are still incomplete, with previous estimates stating they would be ready by December.

Last month, the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth became the first of the newly-built grounds for the tournament to be officially opened.

Written by Craig Kemp

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