South Africa: 2010 Construction Workers Strike Ends With Pay Rise - THE construction sector strike that targeted 2010 Soccer World Cup infrastructure projects came to an end officially late yesterday after employers gave in to workers' demands, including a 12% pay rise. [AA Construction]

South Africa: Talks to End 2010 Construction Strike Falter - EFFORTS to end the construction industry strike, now in its seventh day, appeared to be deadlocked late yesterday as it remained unclear whether unions and employers had resolved their differences over a framework of agreement presented to workers last week. [AA Construction]

By Chris Bathembu

Johannesburg - Construction bosses and unions are currently meeting at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) offices for crucial talks aimed at ending the week long strike by workers.

Speaking to BuaNews shortly before the meeting on Tuesday, head of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee Danny Jordaan said he was confident a consensus can still be reached to end the dispute.

"We are confident but please let's speak after the meeting," said Dr Jordaan.

The National Union of Mine Workers (NUM) has rejected the latest wage offer put forward by employers.

Workers have been striking for over a week now, demanding a 13 percent increase. The employers, represented by the South African Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors, upped their offer to 11.5 percent from the initial 10 percent.

The mass action has crippled work in major 2010 projects including the construction of rapid rail network, Gautrain. - BuaNews

South Africa: Meeting to End Strike Continues - Construction bosses and unions are currently meeting at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) offices for crucial talks aimed at ending the week long strike by workers. [AA Construction]

South Africa: World Cup Workers Set to Go Back on the Job - THE construction strike that has brought work on 2010 sites to a halt for a week could end today, after the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said yesterday most of its members had conditionally accepted a new pay offer. [AA Construction]

South Africa: Engineering Bosses, Unions to Meet Tuesday - Engineering bosses are to meet with the union representing striking construction workers on Tuesday to discuss whether their members have accepted the revised wage offer tabled last week. [AA Construction]

By Chris Bathembu

Pretoria - Engineering bosses are to meet with the union representing striking construction workers on Tuesday to discuss whether their members have accepted the revised wage offer tabled last week.

"Yes they will definitely be meeting," said spokesperson for South African Federation for Civil Engineering Contractors (Safcec) Vanessa Casey on Monday. Safcec represents the employer body.

On Thursday, an 11.5 percent wage increase was tabled after talks involving Safcec, the 2010 Local Organising Committee (LOC), Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).

It was agreed that union leaders would take the new offer to their members for consideration, despite NUM sticking to their demand of a 13 percent increase.

(NUM) spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said while union leaders were consulting with their members ahead of the meeting, the strike was continuing until "we sign on the dotted line".

The industrial action has affected construction at several 2010 FIFA World Cup stadia as well as the multi-billion Rand Gautrain project.

By Chris Bathembu

Pretoria - Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has commended the South African Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors (Safcec) and National Union of Mineworkers' (NUM) for their efforts to end the strike in the construction industry.

"It is very important for South Africans to understand that dialogue is the best method to resolve differences," said Minister Mdladlana in a statement.

The minister and the Local Organising Committee met with the union and Safcec on Thursday to resolve the strike which saw construction work at several 2010 FIFA World Cup stadia grind to a halt.

The 12-hour meeting on Thursday resulted in an agreement being reached between the employer body and the union, said the department.

According to the union, Safcec has now offered the striking workers an 11 percent wage increase. NUM and Safcec will meet again on Tuesday.

Speaking to BuaNews on Friday, NUM spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said the union would take Safcec's new offer to its members.

"If they accept it we will then sign the agreement on Tuesday. But if they don't accept it will mean going back to the drawing board," said Mr Seshoka.

South Africa: Strike Negotiators Burn the Midnight Oil - THE construction industry strike looked set to go into a third day last night, despite top-level talks brokered by Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana yesterday. [AA Construction]

South Africa: Mdladlana Hopeful of Quick Solution to Construction Strike - Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana is hopeful that a solution to the wage dispute which has halted construction work at 2010 FIFA World Cup stadia will be found soon. [AA Construction]

Africa: Strike Halts Stadium Construction - Some 70,000 construction workers in South Africa have gone on strike, halting work on stadiums being built for the 2010 World Cup. [AA Urbanisation]

By Edwin Tshivhidzo and Proffesor Ndawonde

Pretoria - Deputy Minister of Public Works, Hendrietta Bogane-Zulu, says government will intervene if the need arises in negotiations to end the strike in the construction industry.

"Should there be a need, we will intervene to find a solution," said the minister, speaking on Wednesday at the launch of National Construction Week in Pretoria.

Ms Bogane-Zulu said she hoped that there would be a breakthrough soon in negotiations between the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the employer body represented by the South African Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors (Safcec),

Striking construction workers turned out in numbers on Wednesday at some of the 2010 World Cup stadia, including Moses Mabida Stadium in Durban and Soccer City in Johannesburg.

The union had rejected the 10.4 percent offer made by Safcec, saying that it would stick to its 13 percent wage increase demand.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Construction Industry Development Board, Ronnie Khoza, said he would be monitoring the situation and should there be a need, they would also intervene.

South Africa: Strike Will Halt All 2010 Projects Tomorrow - WORK at all 2010 Soccer World Cup construction projects will grind to a halt tomorrow after unions yesterday rejected a revised pay offer and opted to strike in support of a higher demand. [AA Construction]

Construction strike judgement expected on Monday - Construction strike judgement expected on Monday - The South African Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors (Safcec) said on Friday that judgement regarding its interdict against the proposed construction strike on July 8, would be handed down on Monday.
read more [Architect's Blog]