2010 construction workers prepare to strike

do you hear that? the sound of the hammer on the nail being driven into the coffin of the construction industry for 2009 ?

Looks like Plan B may be required, after all.

Let them eat cake!

The increase being offered sounds quite reasonable. In addition these people should be glad they still have work. Construction is slowing down everywhere and many are losing their employment.

Take SWC2010 off South Africa NOW and give it Australia. Then the strike-happy construction workers can finish the stadiums by 2030, in "Africa Time". And watch the soccer on someone else's TV.

I respect the views expressed earlier,I would like to bring the legal perspective to this matter to the striking employees not only in the construction industry but every employees in South Africa,Section 23(Labour relations) of the Constitution 1996,states clearly that (1)Everyone has the right to fair labour practices (2)(a)to form and to join a trade union (b)to participate in the activities and programme of a trade union (c) to strike, of course the employers have rights as well. Labour Relations Act is clear about the rights and responsibility of the relationship of employees and employers.

Based of the above the employees in the construction industry have all the right to strike from the legal perspective. As to the morality of them striking is not the issue here,all of us we are passionate about the fifa soccer world cup coming for the first time,it is a historic event that brings massive oppotunities for all the South Africans,the employees have every right to strike, I have confidence in the LOC Committee,yesterday during Lesedi FM Dr I.Khoza said he is attending a meeting where issues around the strikes are going to be discussed,he a good man I greatly admire and respect his negotiating skills, I believe he is going to play a major role together with all parties.

I pray that all the parties wrap up the strike with satisfaction of the employees and employers. If you have a right which is entrench in the Constitution and legislation passed by parliament just exersice your right.

You know what I love about UNIONS? Nothing. They claim to work for the people who pay them part of their salaries every month, but do they make any sacrifices for their members - and has it occurred to them that (a) holding the 2010 world cup to ransom is not in the best interest of the entire country let alone anything else and (b) if we lose the 2010 because we aren't ready it will be their fault and they won't have any work at all! By all means negotiate for better pay - but putting South Africa at risk? Not clever and not intelligent!

10% is a very reasonable offer for a country in recession.

The unions are holding this country to ransom. This is unacceptable and it is time the government grows a spine and stand up against these people. It might hurt a little doing so, but it is going to hurt a hell of a lot more if they don’t act now.

If they don't call off the strike, they should be fired!

The unions can be compared no a child that was never disciplined. This child is now a grown up...

That the NUM is prepared to follow thru here is beyond any reasonable thought:

These construction contracts were awarded through a tender process with fixed costs envisaged. That material input costs have skyrocketed has already impacted on the projects. Makes one wonder as to why you take the risk to take on these deals to have the labour force hold you to ransom over the deminising profit slice of the cake.

Government will have to get involved if greater increases are demanded. It is their alliance partner that is making the demands and as such they should be forced to enter into the negotiation process.

The SARB should be involved - Cosatu and the rest are demanding lower interest rates and yet they (Cosatu/Num etc) want to add to inflation by demanding above inflation wage increases.

Me thinks any perks comming to the workers in the realm of free tickets etc to the games should be sumarily withdrawn.

etc, etc, etc - this is tiring!

Yes Duncan. FIFA must be bloody worried about this.

This is a "no work no pay " situation But the Union officials continue to get paid.
Is the purpose of a Union not to get the best for their members who pay a fee monthly. Why then does the Union not pay the wages of the workers as they do in other countries. That is what a Union is for. The strike action will become the last option and not the first one. If the Unions had to liquidate some of their investments to make the payments , maybe it would focus the minds!!

We get one "Colossol Opportunity" to show case SA to the rest of the world with possible huge reward- and what do we do - we hold our own country to Ransom !!

Dumb = 10/10.
Shoot ourselves in the foot = 10/10
Foresight = Zero.

Re: brian dixon
As far as I remember this is exactly what my history teacher told me in high school. Union members pay fees. And the deal is that they in turn get paid for days that they have to strike.
I doubt this EVER happens in SA. Maybe workers should be made aware of this and put some pressure on their unions to shape up. Where do all the membership fees go?