World Cup construction workers to end strike

A strike by workers at South Africa’s World Cup stadiums has ended after an agreement on a wage dispute, according to public television.

The week-long strike threatened the completion deadlines of five venues for the 2010 football World Cup and other major projects associated with the world’s most watched sporting event.

The SABC reported unions accepted a 12-percent wage offer after 15 hours of “intense talks”. Construction workers had demanded 13 percent.

Employers lost a bid to get construction workers to waive their right to strike in future.

Zwelenzima Vavi of the union federation COSATU said workers would return to work on Thursday morning after signing the agreement.

“It is a huge relief, we are hosting a World Cup next year and we can’t afford a delay in the construction of the stadiums,” said Vavi.