Attorneys for the Group Five-WBHO Consortium on Thursday said they were seeking a high court interdict that would prevent striking construction workers from entering the site where the Moses Mabhida 2010 Soccer World Cup Stadium is being built in Durban.
The consortium’s KwaZulu-Natal managing director Craig Jessop said attorneys were seeking the order in the Durban High Court and ”we hope to have it before midday”.
He was responding after two security guards were chased out of a complex at the stadium by striking workers.
He said attorneys had also drawn up a discontent letter to the National Union of Mineworkers (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],” he said.
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.
Small groups of employees were seen attempting to burn notices issued by the management which informed workers that any industrial action taken by non-NUM members was an illegal strike.
Metro police intervened and the fire was put out.
Msi Poswa, provincial organiser and chief negotiator for NUM said: ”Management is nowhere to be found … we are still striking.”
Police spokesperson Superintendent Muzi Mngomezulu said a fleet of officers and dog unit members were trying to bring the crowd under control.
”At this stage, it is unclear if there were any injuries but there have been reports of violence,” Mngomezulu said.
Hundreds of workers gathered at the stadium at 7.30am on Thursday, continuing the second day of the National Union of Mineworker’s 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,” he said.
Poswa 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 their reassurance that construction of the stadium was on track and that delivery of the stadium was not in jeopardy.
More than a thousand workers downed tools at 7am on Wednesday after talks with management failed on Tuesday.
Poswa said even after spending eleven hours in talks with management, no agreement had been reached.
NUM is demanding project bonuses of R1 500 a month for each worker.
It is also 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 worker, as they are unhappy with the 15
safety compliance officers provided by the consortium. – Sapa