Construction workers went on strike today causing work on 2010 stadium building sites to be delayed. Strikers marched from the train station in Cape Town to Greenpoint stadium, where a large contingent of construction workers had already gathered. Police reported that strikers were turning violent and threatening to throw police cars and vehicles passing by with stones.

In the article below Sapa reports on the latest news from the contruction worker strikes and what the developments are in terms of the wage negotiations. Use the link to view articles on the City of Cape Town as well as other business related articles on CBN's website.   

Construction strike turns violent
Sapa - The Times

The strike by construction workers at 2010 World Cup sites turned violent on Thursday as the minister of labour met the parties involved in an effort to find a solution.

Police used a stun grenade to disperse a group of strikers near Cape Town’s Green Point stadium on Thursday morning, a police spokesman said.

Inspector November Filander said the 50-odd strikers were walking from the city’s railway station to the stadium.

When they reached Somerset Road they threatened to throw stones at police and passing motorists, and tried to disrupt traffic.

"Police had to fire one stun grenade, and they dispersed," Filander said.

"At this stage everything is quiet."

Meanwhile dozens of disgruntled construction workers protested on several roads in Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni metro police said.

Inspector Jimmy Maboko said strikers first marched east on the R24 near Concorde bridge, and then moved onto the N12 east.

"Now, they have offramped towards Edenvale and there is no disruption to traffic flow."

Maboko said there were earlier reports that protesters had stoned vehicles on the roadway but stressed that police did not see anything and that no motorists had come forward to report such incidents.

The minister of labour had intervened and was scheduled to meet the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), the SA Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors (Safcec) and the 2010 Local Organising Committee at 10am.

Safcec spokesman Joe Campanella said just before noon that the meeting was ongoing and that Safcec intended to issue a press release "once we get direction from the meeting".

Striking workers at Soccer City in Soweto told a Sapa reporter that they expected an announcement from the NUM around noon.

The strike entered its second day on Thursday with picketing at several sites being built for the 2010 World Cup.

NUM said it wanted a 13 percent increase and that it had rejected outright the employers’ offer of 10.4 percent.

Campanella, however, said the union had not taken into account the other aspects of the package.

Demands included not only the 13 percent salary hike, but an annual bonus, daily allowances, paid maternity leave and a minimum wage.

"If you take all those demands into account -- and not only the 13 percent wage increase -- then Safcec estimates that the union is asking for a 65 percent increase," he said.