09 July,2009 08:27 AM IST | | AFP
Over 70,000 workers labouring on South Africa's World Cup stadiums embarked on a strike yesterday to press for higher wages.
The strike threatens the completion deadlines at five venues for the 2010 FIFA World Cup stadiums and other major projects associated with the event.
"The government must help us, otherwise we are going to delay 2010. We will strike until 2011," said National Union of Mineworkers spokesman Lesiba Seshoka. NUM is demanding a 13 percent wage hike plus benefits like paid maternity leave and better safety regulations.
Organising committee chief Danny Jordaan said he hoped the strike will be over soon as construction workers were important in ensuring that SA was on track to meet deadlines.
