Court to rule on World Cup city strike
AFP
Laurent Thomet June 9, 2014, 12:21 am
A Brazilian court is to rule on the legality of a subway strike threatening to disrupt the soccer World Cup's opening game with just four days until kick-off in Sao Paulo.
The strike has brought traffic mayhem to the business hub of 20 million people as it prepares to welcome more than 60,000 fans for Thursday's game between Brazil and Croatia.
The subway workers' union on Sunday awaited a ruling by a regional court but warned it could continue the work-stoppage regardless of the legal battle's outcome.
The strike over wage demands is the latest social upheaval to hit Brazil, where protesters angry at the World Cup's $US11 billion ($A11.90 billion) bill have staged demonstrations.
The five-line system is partially operating but subway trains are not arriving at the Corinthians Arena that will host the opening game.
Union official Rogerio Malaquias said on Sunday up to 95 per cent of workers support the strike.
"As long as there is momentum, the movement will continue and could continue until the World Cup," he warned.
Union workers have reduced an initial claim for a 16.5 per cent wage hike to 12.2 per cent but employers are offering only 8.7 per cent.
The standoff led to a clash on Friday between picketing strikers and police inside a metro station, with authorities swinging truncheons and firing tear gas to disperse the protesters.
Authorities are hard-pressed to resolve the latest labour dispute to avoid another embarrassing incident in a World Cup hit by delays even before it has started.
The Corinthians Arena has itself been plagued by delays, and construction workers were racing against the clock over the weekend to finish it before the opening whistle: wiping seats, checking beams and installing wiring in two temporary stands.
Delays at five of the 12 World Cup stadia have contributed to the rising bill of hosting the tournament, infuriating many Brazilians who have held protests demanding President Dilma Rousseff spend the money on hospitals and education instead.
Rousseff charged that the protests were orchestrated to derail her Workers Party (PT) before October 5 general elections.
