Hundreds of striking civil engineering workers in Nelson Mandela Bay, including workers on the 2010 stadium, are set to join a massive protest on Thursday to blockade the CBD.

The National Union of Mineworkers has declared a national dispute with employers over wages and conditions of employment.

NUM Eastern Cape education chairman Vukile Lento said civil engineering contractors affiliated to the union had downed tools at various building sites in the city at lunchtime on Wednesday.

Workers are demanding a 13% pay increase and better working conditions.

Lento said the strike would halt work on the stadium‘s parking bays, the Bus Rapid Transit system in Kempston Road and Govan Mbeki Avenue, the N2 bridge at Coega and upgrade of Livingstone Hospital.

“(Today), workers from as far as Uitenhage will stage a blockade on all main roads leading to the inner city and we will use force to prevent other construction workers from working while we are on strike.”

He said the NUM would lead the strike until building workers‘ demands were met.

Worker Mngcineli Mava said they were also demanding funeral cover of R10000.

“The R5000 we get from the company to cover funeral expenses is not enough.”

Mava also said workers were not compensated when injured at work. “The strike is a message to employers to start treating construction workers like decent human beings.”

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality spokesman Kupido Baron said: “The work on the stadium has been completed and the construction of the parking bays is on schedule.”

Baron said that if the union and employers dealt with the strike adequately, all work on the stadium was expected to be finished by May.

The NUM said more than 95% of construction sites for 2010 World Cup-related projects were quiet on Wednesday at the onset of the strike.

“The strike will enter its second day (today) and workers have shown the willingness and resilience to continue until employers offer the required 13%.

“If they do not offer us 13%, we may demand 15% next week and 20% the following week

“So this matter is urgent,” said NUM negotiator Bhekani Ngcobo.

A meeting between the NUM, the South African Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors (Safcec), the 2010 Local Organising Committee and the Labour Department is scheduled for 10am today.

World Cup LOC chief Danny Jordaan said he was optimistic about the negotiations. Additional reporting by Sapa