Call for 'Strike-Free' World Cup

The Independent Democrat party is calling on labor officials to negotiate to ensure a "strike-free" World Cup.

Joe Mcgluwa, the ID's spokesperson for Sport, called on Nedlac to "take immediate steps" to negotiate such a period. This came after the Congress of SA Trade Unions warned that mass action against Eskom's electricity price increases could carry on during the soccer tournament.

"The ID has consistently been critical of the electricity price increases, of Nersa's rubber-stamping of Eskom’s price increase applications and of government’s shady energy deals, including ANC front company Chancellor House’s stake in them," Mcgluwa said in a statement.

"However, the World Cup is also a vital socio-economic opportunity for South Africans, especially considering our huge investments in it."

ID calls for 'strike free' World Cup
News 24
March 28, 2010

Unions Threaten Strike Over Rail Fare Hike

Union officials are threatening a countrywide strike should a proposed rail ticket increase go through. Metrorail is planning to increase monthly fares between R40 (~$5.50 USD) and R100 (~$13.50 USD) on April 1.

The Cape Argus reported earlier this week that Metrorail had blamed the increase on rising operational costs and the slashing of its government subsidy.

In a statement released on Thursday, Cosatu expressed outrage at the increases and threatened strike action if the price hike wasn't cancelled.

"Cosatu will reinstate the section 77 notice that gives members the right to bring the economy to a standstill should Metrorail continue with these ill considered increases," the union warned.

South Africa: Cosatu Threat Over Metrorail Increases
Cape Argus
March 19, 2010

Workers Call on FIFA to Ban Foreign Manufacture of Memorabilia

South African laborers and union officials are protesting over the controversial manufacture of World Cup memorabilia outside of South Africa.

Members of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) protested outside FIFA's offices last week insisting that no more memorabilia for the tournament is imported.

The complaints erupted after it was reported that 'Zakumi', the World Cup mascot, was being manufactured in China. Since then, it has emerged that many other products, such as scarves, shirts and blankets, are being brought in from outside South Africa.

Workers vent anger over imports
ESPN
February 16, 2010

Trade Union Congress Calls World Cup a 'Great Rip Off'

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is calling the World Cup a "great rip off" for the Western Cape, arguing the event is draining jobs.

"The Western Cape is losing jobs as a result of Fifa's actions. It seems that whilst in the rest of the country Fifa and the World Cup related activities are growing the economy, the Western Cape is being prejudiced," the union federation's provincial secretary, Tony Ehrenreich said in a statement.

"The clothes and mascots are being made in sweat shops in China. Traders were excluded from the soccer stadium precinct and the city centre. The companies trying to manufacture local soccer-related merchandise are being taken to court. The beer deals are leading to all beer being foreign and imported, and buses used for the World Cup are being imported, when we could be manufacturing them," he charged.

Cosatu: World Cup a rip off for Western Cape
Independent Online
February 5, 2010