South African construction workers went on an indefinite strike Wednesday at stadiums being built for the 2010 World Cup — a move that could derail Africa’s historic first World Cup tournament. About 70,000 workers at stadiums across the country downed tools after wage negotiations deadlocked earlier this week. Workers are demanding a 13 percent pay increase while employers are only offering a 10.4 percent rise.
The unions have complained that some workers are earning about $1.50 an hour while others $5 a week. The Congress of South African Trade Unions, which represents the country’s largest trade union federations, has come out in support of the construction workers. “COSATU, and the construction workers, are as passionate about the 2010 World Cup as anyone, and will do everything possible to ensure its success. But we will not tolerate the stadiums being built by workers who are underpaid or working in dangerous or unhealthy conditions,” the organization said in a statement.
The strike could delay completion of flagship projects such as the Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg, the Green Point stadium in Cape Town and the Moses Mobhida stadium in Durban. Stadiums need to be completed by December to meet deadlines set by the world soccer body FIFA before the tournament kicks off in June 2010.