/ 8 November 2007

Stadium consortium interdicts striking workers

The Group Five-WBHO Consortium on Thursday obtained a Labour Court interdict preventing construction workers from entering the site where Durban’s Moses Mabhida 2010 Soccer World Cup Stadium is being built.

A statement released by the consortium read: ”The interdict prohibits the strikers from being within 50m of the entrances to the site, unless they wish to tender their services in terms of their contracts of employment.

”Those employees living in the accommodation provided on site are prohibited from accessing the site (unless to work normally), but may come and go freely from the hostel at a designated entrance point. The interdict furthermore prohibits any unlawful act from being carried out and the police are empowered to arrest any person in contempt of the order.”

The consortium said the interdict was obtained on the basis that not all the workers from the consortium were National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) members and that ”acts of intimidation and threats are being carried out by strikers and those employees wishing to work are being prevented from doing so”.

The group said damage was also being caused to property.

The interdict followed an incident in the morning when two security guards were chased off the Durban building site by striking workers.

Letter of discontent

Earlier in the day, Group Five’s KwaZulu-Natal MD, Craig Jessop, said attorneys had also drawn up a letter of discontent addressed to the NUM.

”We are looking at the police to protect our property and we are addressing the issue of violence with the authorities,” Jessop said. ”Our attorneys have written a letter to the union expressing our concern at the violence at the site today [Thursday].”

Jessop added that there would be no more negotiations with the union. ”We made our position clear to them and we will not be meeting with them again this week for any negotiations.”

He said out of 1 600 workers, only 16% belonged to the NUM.

A small group of workers was seen trying to burn notices issued by the management that informed workers that any industrial action taken by non-NUM members was an illegal strike. Metro police intervened and the fire was put out.

Police spokesperson Superintendent Muzi Mngomezulu said a fleet of officers and dog unit members was deployed during the day.

Second day

Hundreds of workers gathered at the stadium at 7.30am on Thursday, continuing the second day of the NUM strike in windy and cloudy conditions.

”We will not stop… we want what is owed to us and nothing will stop us now,” protesting worker Sipho Mdlalose said. ”It can rain and storm but we will not be chased away.”

Msi Poswa, provincial organiser and chief negotiator for the NUM, said the union was expecting 1 200 protesters on Thursday. ”No agreement has been reached yet and this issue may not be settled by the weekend … The strike may continue next week,” he said.

Even with the strike continuing, Group Five-WBHO Consortium on Wednesday gave its reassurance that construction of the stadium was on track and that delivery of the stadium was not in jeopardy.

More than 1 000 workers downed tools at 7am on Wednesday after talks with management failed on Tuesday. Poswa said even after spending 11 hours in talks with management, no agreement had been reached.

The NUM is demanding project bonuses of R1 500 a month for each worker. It is further demanding that subcontractors meet minimum wage requirements for the civil engineering sector.

The union is also demanding that workers be allowed to elect a full-time safety compliance officer, as they are unhappy with the 15 safety compliance officers provided by the consortium. — Sapa