The South African Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors (Safcec) said on Wednesday it would apply for an interdict to stop workers at World Cup sites from going on strike.
”We are looking to obtain an interdict from the labour court to stop the strike on the basis that it is premature,” Safcec spokesperson Joe Campanella said.
He said this application would be made ”as soon as possible”.
Parties were not currently in any kind of negotiations, Campanella said.
The Building, Construction and Allied Workers’ Union (BCAWU) and National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) had served notice for strike action.
”If it goes ahead it would be the biggest strike ever to hit the construction industry,” BCAWU general secretary Narius Moloto said on Wednesday.
”BCAWU believes that issues giving rise to the strike could well be resolved by the employers, as they are reasonable and fair,” Moloto said.
The union was asking for a 13% wage increase, while employers were offering 10%.
”In considering strike action, the union… [has] taken into consideration the national interests surrounding 2010 Soccer World Cup stadiums and road infrastructure,” said Moloto.
The NUM said it has served the construction sector’s employer body with a notice to go on strike after prolonged wage talks collapsed last Friday.
”A strike action is set to begin on July 8,” Lesiba Seshoka, the NUM’s spokesperson, said.
”It’s not just the World Cup stadia that will be affected, we are talking about power stations, hospitals, roads and the like. It will last until they [the employers] come to their senses and offer a 13% wage increase for one year.”
Several sectors in South Africa are currently holding wage negotiations, some of which cover a two-year period, and unions are demanding above-inflation increases.
Employers have baulked at the demands, with consumer inflation at 8%, citing the global economic downturn.
As well as World Cup infrastructure, the construction strike could halt work on the Gautrain, power stations, an airport, a refinery, a coal terminal, hospitals, highways and mining projects. — Sapa, Reuters