Up to 70,000 South African construction workers are expected to go on strike Wednesday in a move that will threaten timely completion of stadiums being readied for the FIFA 2010 World Cup.
多达7万名南非建筑工人预计星期三举行罢工。这次罢工可能影响为2010年世界杯足球赛而修建的体育场馆按期完工。
The major sticking point between the National Union of Mineworkers, which represents South African construction workers is a demand for a 13 percent increase in wages.
南非全国矿工工会跟雇主谈判的焦点是要求加薪13%，这个工会代表南非的建筑工人。
Union spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka told VOA the employers' offer of 10 percent is simply not enough because it barely covers inflation.
工会发言人塞肖卡(Lesiba Seshoka)对美国之音记者说，雇主提出加薪10%还不足以弥补通货膨胀。
"We would like to see a situation in which workers get real increases. From the 13 percent that we are asking for, the real increase is therefore [4.6 percent] which we believe will actually make a difference, particularly for workers who are earning as little as little as R2,600 [$325] a month," said Seshoka.
“我们希望看到工人薪水真正有所增加。从我们要求的13%的加薪幅度看，实际增长是4.6%，我们认为这个幅度才能真正有意义，特别是对那些每月薪水只有2,600兰特(约合325美元)的工人来说， 只有这样他们的收入才会有所改变。”
Many of the workers who are expected to lay down tools from Wednesday are working on stadium construction for the FIFA 2010 World Cup and also related projects such as Gautrain, the rapid-rail project that will service Johannesburg, Pretoria and the main international airport, O.R. Tambo.
预计星期三罢工的工人中有许多人在2010年世足赛比赛场地的建筑工地干活，还有的工人在相关工程，比如Gautrain快速铁路工程做工，这项工程将连接约翰内斯堡、比勒陀利亚和奥利弗坦博国际机场。
Some South Africans have accused the unions of using the World Cup to pressure South Africa. There is also concern that over the long term, international investors will be reluctant to invest their money in South Africa if the country fails to deliver its World Cup project on time.
一些南非人指责南非全国矿工工会借世界杯足球赛向南非施加压力。还有一个长期担忧就是，如果南非不能按时把世界杯工程交付使用，今后国际投资者可能会不愿意向南非投资。
But Seshoka argued that primary responsibility for timely delivery of these projects rests on the shoulders of the employers.
不过，塞肖卡认为，世界杯场馆建设工程是否能够如期交付使用主要责任应该在于雇主。
"Why should it be workers and workers alone that are worried about the impact that the strike is going to have on investment that happens in South Africa. We [are] simply saying those that actually benefit from that investment that comes with a successful 2010 must actually ensure that our workers benefit, and the people of South Africa benefit," Seshoka said.
“为什么只要求工人负责，只要求工人考虑罢工可能对南非投资造成影响？我们只不过是说，那些将从2010年世足赛投资中得到好处的人必须切实确保我们的工人受益，南非人民受益。”
The employers in the dispute are members of the South African Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors. Federation spokesperson Joe Campanella argues that 13 percent taken in conjunction with bonuses and other demands will make the overall package too expensive.
这场劳资纠纷中的雇主是南非土木工程承包方联合会的会员，这个联合会的发言人乔·坎帕内拉(Joe Campanella)认为，13%的涨幅外加奖金等要求会使整个建筑项目过于昂贵。
Campanella told VOA that if the strike goes ahead, the employers will do their best to ensure timely completion of all World Cup projects, but declined to make any commitments.
坎帕内拉对美国之音记者说，一旦罢工如期举行，雇主方面会尽最大努力确保世界杯所有工程按时交工，不过他不愿意做出任何承诺。
"Well these obviously very technical considerations and the deadlines are there and once the work resumes then one would hope to meet. I cannot really say more than that," he said.
“这些显然是非常技术性的考虑，而且最后期限都摆在那里。一旦工人复工，工期不会耽搁。我实在无法再说什么了。”
Union and Federation representatives continue meeting in an attempt to find a resolution to the dispute.
工会代表和联合会代表继续开会，争取找到解决纠纷的方法。 |