S Africa strike hits stadium work

toonfandangl · July 09, 2009, 09:32:44 AM

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

Unions are threatening to wreck the tournament 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.

The BBC's Mpho Lakaje in Soweto says 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.

The government must help us, otherwise we are going to delay 2010
Union spokesman Lesiba Seshoka..............................................

South Africa passes World Cup test

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

SandyB · July 09, 2009, 04:07:02 PM

In these shaky economic times they demanding a 13 % pay rise ,, and yes they got the organisers and yes who is fooring the bill the government over a barrel ... I saw a Govt representative on the box saying they will intervene to ensure completion ,, to me this means that they will accede to the 13 % demand .. Ok now who pays for this ?? the TAXPAYER .. our fiscus is becoming increasingly strained with the current economic situation ..
I wish they showed the same speedy response when the poorly paid public service doctors went on strike .. whats more important ??? health or the footer ??? It seems they got priorities totally screwed up .. stadiums costing billions .. money that could have been well spent on our crumbling esential services ...
They make me sick ...\
furthermore if they accede .. a precedent will be set for any other union to also demand ... only good ting is this might strain the rather crazy triparte alliance between Govt Cosatu and SACP ... I mean the buggers now sayng that the mining industry should be nationalised .. now we all have seen IT NEVER WORKS .. as hard as it might be to live in a capitalist system ( its not perfect ) its not wise to move to communist system either .. it crumbles and breaks down ....

Michael Alexander · July 09, 2009, 04:11:09 PM

Perhaps it's time to emigrate North of the Orange!

SandyB · July 09, 2009, 04:18:35 PM

Sadly so no job for me north of the Orange with my new " trade " production management being effective utilisation of resources ie manpower, materials , machinery , product development , technical development etc etc .. a jack of all trades job ... my skills as electrician now rusty and outdated .... only thing is good managers can migrate from discipline to discipline ...

Mike Stenson (RIP) · July 09, 2009, 04:34:03 PM

They did get offered 10%....

SandyB · July 09, 2009, 08:19:55 PM

The so called and very skewed CPI according t the powers that be is at 7 - 8 % .. and when it comes to us asking for price increases to our customers we have to justify that labour cost % ,raw material , fuel etc so we cannot go willy nilly asking for increases .. its unfortunately a time for some temperance .. hey it would be nice to be able to give our staff 13 % but then it might be one of the factors that slides us in times of slim margins into definite loss as opposed to break even and continuity ,, and yes that eventually means loss of jobs .. not good either .. so far we not even had to go there ,, yes we careful with hiring extra/ filling vacant posts but never yet had to say ,, retrench or who wants a VP ?? its a kak situation folks .. but these union boys tat live off union subs need to learn some lessons in financial reality ..

Andrew Darné · July 09, 2009, 11:41:01 PM

Didn't the same crowd strike last year for something? I think it was only in certain areas, not the whole lot...

Any recollections?

toonfandangl · July 10, 2009, 02:38:42 AM

Its always the same in all walks of life to get what you want, if you have the bargaining chip then you will use it.
Whether its fair play or foul...............................

In 2010, football fans will enjoy the benefits of a host of multibillion-rand infrastructure projects recently announced by the government.

Between now and 2010, South Africa will spend in the region of R5-billion on building and renovating 10 World Cup stadiums, R5.2-billion on upgrades to the country's airports, and R3.5-billion on improvements to the country's road and rail network.

Boost for the economy
According to consulting firm Grant Thornton, the World Cup will pump around R21.3-billion into South Africa's economy, generating an estimated R12.7-billion in direct spending and creating an estimated 159 000 new jobs.

"There will be a big direct injection for the economy", Standard Bank economist Goolam Ballim said after Fifa announced the 2010 host. "But the indirect impact may be more meaningful for a sustainable economic lift in subsequent years ... it will help change the perceptions that a large number of foreign investors hold of Africa and South Africa."

These are all quotes but they have a ring of truth about them.

Maybe you should ask all the Football Stars that will participate in the games to donate part of their salary's to help give the workers their 13% pay increase.

I think it would be small change to them (Football Stars), I don't think they had this problem in China last year in the Olympics

......

SandyB · July 10, 2009, 09:46:47 AM

TAKE NOTE OF MY COMMENT BELOW .. UNDERSTOOD THAT YES PROJECTIONS OF HUGE INFLUX OF MONEY .. BUT WHO BENEFITS MOST ... CERTAINLY NOT THE POOR BUGGER SITTING IN THE DAY LONG QUEUE AT A GOVT CLINIC ?? AND YES THE PLAYERS SHOULD DONATE PART OF THEIR EXHORBITANT SALARIES ...

I wish they showed the same speedy response when the poorly paid public service doctors went on strike .. whats more important ??? health or the footer ??? It seems they got priorities totally screwed up .. stadiums costing billions .. money that could have been well spent on our crumbling esential services ...
They make me sick ...\

Diana Rudd (Boehme) · July 10, 2009, 01:29:02 PM

Oi Sandy with whats happening with our doctors and health care please don't get sick.

toonfandangl · July 10, 2009, 03:47:42 PM

Sandy its the world over just look at the professions like doctors, surgeons, nurses,teachers on and on!!!! and guy plays 90 minuets football or a golfer cricket player.

Then look at the deferential in salary's........................sports persons or..........................................

SandyB · July 10, 2009, 06:51:19 PM

Dont worry Diana I got a good medical aid ,, thats till these idiots that stuffed up the national health system ,, who are now crying unfair look at the disparity ( they forget we pay handsome fees for quality healthcare ) .. and are now eyeing the private sector saying it must be under the umbrella of national .. Duh ?? why not just fix what they f...d up ??