2010 World Cup In Jeopardy

70,000 construction workers went on strike today demanding a 13% increase in pay.  The average worker brings in about $310 a month, but some officials say that a lot of workers are not even getting that amount.  Soccer City union organiser Patrick Geqeza blamed management inflexibility for precipitating the strike.

“We feel bad about going on strike. [But] they don’t want to meet us half way,” he told AP news agency.

Six entirely new stadiums are being built for the World Cup, while four are being modernised.  Danny Jordaan, head of the World Cup organising committee, said he respected the right of the workers to strike but felt the dispute would be resolved without affecting the construction schedule.

“The construction workers have been the lifeblood of the 2010 Fifa World Cup project,” he said in a statement.

“Their hard work has ensured that we are on track to meet our deadlines and that our stadiums will be among the best in the world next year.”