Workers at the 2010 Soccer World Cup Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit are still striking, while talks with management and the government continue, the National Union of Mineworkers said on Friday.
About 500 workers downed tools on Wednesday morning demanding better pay.
Spokesperson George Ledwaba said a meeting with the Mpumalanga minister of sport on Friday was concluded but all matters discussed were confidential.
”No decisions have been taken as yet and we still have to meet with management,” he said
He said workers were being paid ”builders’ rates” and not engineering rates — which the union was demanding.
”It is an old issue, the issue about the management paying workers under the building industry and therefore the wages are calculated in terms of the bargaining council [for that sector],” he said.
South African construction firm Basil Read and French company Bouygues are the joint-venture partners leading the construction of the stadium, which will serve as a host venue for the World Cup.
Basil Read chief of operations Kobus Van Biljon said the matter was in the hands of the court.
”We have served a notice to the high court, and as far as I know, in the court order we have given the workers an ultimatum to return to work or be dismissed.”
”They have until Monday to respond. This is an illegal strike so we have not been in much discussion with the workers except for Thursday,” he said.
According to Basil Read construction, this is the third illegal strike for 2008.
”We have to get the situation under control and accelerate the construction of the stadium in order for us to meet the deadline.
”But be sure we will complete the stadium on time,” said Van Biljon. — Sapa