By Clayton Barnes
2010 Writer
Local organising committee chief executive Danny Jordaan has urged employers to build stronger working relationships with staff to avoid large-scale industrial action during the World Cup.
Addressing MPs at a tourism portfolio committee meeting in Parliament yesterday, Jordaan said his team was "in continuous talks" with the labour federations to ensure a strike-free event. But he warned that employers, especially those in the hospitality industry, should ensure that workers were kept happy.
"We must especially work on the relationship with workers at hotels, health workers and those in the taxi industry," said Jordaan.
"We will continue to speak to the different labour federations ... and have to ensure that there are no disruptions."
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Jordaan pointed to the situation in France in 1998 when, a day before the World Cup kick-off, pilots and airport cleaning staff went on strike. A year earlier, during that country's Confederations Cup, the transport workers went on strike.
"We had to walk to the stadium to watch Bafana play," said Jordaan.
"These things happen, but we should try to minimise the risk."
Earlier, SAA warned the portfolio committee that its biggest threat next year was industrial action from staff and vendors, including crew, groundhandling, catering and refuelling staff.
SAA acting chief executive Chris Smyth told MPs the airline suspected there would be large-scale industrial action from its groundhandlers, but that there was a contingency plan. He said SAA was working with unions and labour representatives.
In a brief update on the country's World Cup readiness, Jordaan said all the stadiums would be ready and handed over to Fifa next month.
On the city's integrated rapid transit (IRT) system delay, he said: "We are confident that the transport issue will be resolved. After the final draw, we will be in a better position to say exactly how many visitors will come to Cape Town or any of the other host cities for the event."
Lesley Sedibe, the LOC's legal head, said more than 680 000 tickets had already been sold.
He told MPs that the resale of tickets outside stadiums and before matches would be strictly prohibited.
"The Department of Sport and Recreation is busy with the legislation and it will be law before the event. The police have been included in our strategy to deal with ticket touts."
While seating may vary from venue to venue, category 1 seats are generally alongside the pitch, and range in price from $160 (about R1 120) for a group match to $900 for the final.
Category 2 seats are generally alongside category 1 seats, in the corners, and range in price from $120 for a group match to $600 for the final. Category 3 seats are in the corners or behind the goals, and range in price from $80 to $400.
Category 4 seats are behind the goals, and range in price from R140 for a group match to R1 050 for the final.
The reserved wheelchair category tickets cost the same as category 4 seats, regardless of where they are located, and include a complementary ticket for the person accompanying the ticketholder to the match.
Tickets for the final and two semifinals - one of which will be played in Cape Town - are already sold out. To apply for tickets, log on to www.fifa.com.
- This article was originally published on page 4 of Cape Argus on November 04, 2009
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