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document.write("USER COMMENTS >");
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workers
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document.write("Get new workers! let them strike if they want to strike, that's their right, but its also the employer's right to hire new staff if others cannot do the job!. Frank");
document.write("Hear Hear!
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document.write("Right on Frank. They are hardly doctors that need years of training. There are millions who are unemployed who will work for the wages on offer.
Fire them all and replace the entire workforce.. Curious");
document.write("Sick and tired of being exploited by the rich
");
document.write("I also used to be anti-cosatu, but we don't know what's happening behind the scenes here. Companies want the work done, but they want cheap labour and then you as the employee must still struggle to get the little they owe you. I'm currently working for a company that has late paid us for the umpteenth time. I have had no increase in salary in the last 12 months and when we mention it we are told to be greatfull that we have a job. Yet the management can afford to drive nice cars, eat out regularly and spoil themselves with company money in the name of expenses. Wonder if we will get paid on the 31st this month or the Monday afternoon on the 3rd of next month? Oh and don't mention your debit orders that have bounced. Alwyn");
document.write("LABOUR IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
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document.write("I have been in this industry since 1981. Served a 5 year apprenticeship prior to 1981. The last take of apprentices was 18 years ago. Here in the Eastern Cape we have the Eastcape Training Centre where a labourer goes on a course for 6 weeks, comes back with a Certificate then he is either an Electrician, Plumber or Mason. What p&sses me off is when, an IDIOT who is a spokesperson for the work force who knows f&ckall about the building trade, makes a statement about highly skilled labour in the Construction Industry. To this IDIOT a skilled person is, a guy that can lay a brick, cut a piece of wood, fit a pipe in a wall, etc. Then on top of that you have a PROJECT MANAGER standing behind this so called SKILLED LABOUR to see that things are SQUARE, LEVEL, STRAIGHT ETC. This so called SKILLED LABOUR cannot work without supervision.
LESIBA SESHOKA. Here is another GOAT who is leading the brainless masses. When the stadium work is completed and these labourer's go looking for work, other Contractors will not employ them due to the fear that they could come and influence your workforce to go on strike. You see it is the AFRICAN MENTALITY like a LOCUST, whatever you can get to-day grab it. To-morrow will take care of itself. The workers are not aware that as soon as the increase is agreed upon that their SUBSCRIPTIONS go up so that these FATCATS can earn more.
I DO AGREE THAT THEIR ARE A HANDFUL OF THOSE CONNECTED TO THE WORLD CUP THAT HAVE BEEN LIVING IN LUXURY, MAKING A FORTUNE. THEY SHOULD BE EXPOSED.. BUILDING CONTRACTOR");
document.write("the great capitalist
");
document.write("Recently a worker died at a meat processing factory in Milnerton after slipping and falling into a machine that he was cleaning. Apparently the cleaning process required the machine to be running. This begs the question. What kind of health and safety plan is in place here? Probably another one of those places where greed overshadows the wellfare of the staff. Cut corners, pay peanuts and take advantage of the workforce...this is the capitalist way isn't it?
Oh and to frank and curious...'fire them'...and what? Employ more people to exploit?. Alwyn");
document.write("How much is enough
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document.write("It's all very well to talk about ever-increasing wages, but how much is ever enough? Give anyone an increase and it won't be long before he/she is DEMANDING more. There is an estimated unemployment rate of close to 40% in SA (the Govt says 23% but this is highly questionable). All these people are earning NOTHING. Sure you can demand higher wages if you have had years of tertiary education, but we are talking pick-and-shovel stuff here. So let the people who want to work, work - and get rid of the unions that would put South Africa's whole future at stake. Unions are anti-South African - actually holding the whole country to ransom for their own selfish benefits.. fizz");
document.write("LABOUR IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
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document.write("SORRY! SHOULD BE \"the last in-take of apprentices\". Thank you.. BUILDING CONTRACTOR");
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document.write("HERES THE REAL PROBLEM ..... SOUTH AFRICA IS SHORT OF MORE THAN 2,500,000 HOUSES FOR THE POOR .... SO AS THEY BUILD THE STADIUMS OR RAIL LINKS OR WHATEVER, THEY SEE THEIR DREAMS AND HOPES OF EVER OWNING A HOUSE FADING INTO OBLIVION .... THE 2010 SOCCER CUP MIGHT STILL BE A DISASTER ... MAYBE NOT FINISHED ON TIME ... MAYBE SWINE FLU ..... MAYBE THE WORLD ECONOMY .... MAYBE A LOT OF THINGS WILL GO WRONG ..... AND THEY STILL DONT HAVE ANY HOUSES ....... THERE IS A LOT OF RESENTMENT OUT THERE ... SO ITS NOT JUST ABOUT WAGES - WHICH ARE PATHETICALLY LOW, AND INFLATION ERODES THEIR PURCHASING POWER .... ITS ABOUT A LOT OF OTHER ISSUES ALSO .... THEY JUST DONT GIVE A DAMN .... AND WHO CAN BLAME THEM!!!. BUBBA");
document.write("LABOUR IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
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document.write("On the news at 9:00am 9th July. Spokesperson for the workers. \"if we dont get our 13% increase, then next week we will demand 20% and if we dont get that, the week thereafter 25%. This mentality will destroy South Africa. To tha ANC have the b&lls like Margaret Thatcher to do something about the UNIONS before it is too late.. BUILDING CONTRACTOR");
document.write("SA will be hurt
");
document.write("Let's take a look at some of the consequences if this strike continues. The stadiums will not be finished. Blatter will move the World Cup elsewhere. Tens of billions of rands will not pour into South Africa that would have uplifted our entire economy. Overseas companies who are thinking of investing big bucks here, will decide not to because of the unstable labour situation. Our economy will slide downwards to the detriment of all, especially the poor. Simply because the unions are only concerned for their own selfish short-term gains. Would anyone - anyone? - like to dispute this scenario?. gerald");
document.write("SORRY I AM ON A ROLL!
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document.write("What I wanted to add is the following. Thanks to Robert Mugabe.
I only have Zimbabwean's in my employ for the following reasons.
1. Never late.
2. Never drunk.
3. Have pride. Very clean in themselves.
4. Never complain about working late. NOT CLOCK WATCHERS. If you don't tell them when to stop, they will work until dark.
5. Need to work on a w/end. No problem Sir!
6. Never borrow money.
7. Never try to bum something from you.
8. Over and above this they GRAFT HARD!
9. Advice if you employ them. Keep them away from South Africans. Easily influenced because of fear. XENOPHOBIA.
10 APPRECIATE eveything you do or give to them.. BUILDING CONTRACTOR");
document.write("GERALD
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document.write("TRUE WORDS. FULLY AGREE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE AFRICANS HAVE A LOCUST MENTALITY. ALSO BUILDING CONTRACTOR, LOT OF TRUTH IN WHAT YOU SAY. USELESS LABOUR YOU HAVE TO KICK &SS EVERY DAY.. BOERE SEUN");
document.write("strike
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document.write("The workers are probably not aware that the union leaders continue to earn their salaries throughout a strike so are able to say they will continue to strike until 2011. The unions should pay the workers when they call the strike as happens everywhere else. Their funds are locked up in BEE investments and they would suffer a loss if they had to call them up to pay the strikers.. erewhon");
document.write("This seems to happen every time
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document.write("I'm the first to concede that I know very little about the building trade, but it seems to me that there is a wage strike every time a high profile project is undertaken! Surely wages are finalised before contracts are issued?! When hiring workers, is it not a case of \"The job will require you to work for X hours a day, X days a week, for X months. Occasionally you will be required to do overtime at a rate of X per hour. Do you want the job? Yes? Great, sign here!\"
A SUGGESTION: Might it not be a good idea when awarding a contract to Company A to pay Company B a small retainer to be able to step in as soon as Company A is in breach of contract? I know this could prove expensive, but think of it as a type of insurance against the work force holding a project to ransom.. Grant");
document.write("gerald
");
document.write("Will the money from 2010 go towards upliftment or into the pockets of the rich to make them even richer?. Alwyn");
document.write("@ Alwyn
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document.write("Of course the money will go towards making the rich richer. Just like money in government is not applied to upliftment but to the pockets of government fat cats.
Yes it's #### that they get paid R2500 a month, but you can't expect an engineer's salary with no education. At the end of the day you're a labourer wit a labourer's salary. That's life.
Grant's suggestion is a great one. Agree the terms of employment upfront.. Curious");
document.write("R2500 a month?
");
document.write("No wonder these guys are so unhappy, they can barely afford to exist with a family. CAN YOU HONESTLY IMAGINE SURVIVING ON R2500/month??? I would be furious too. The World Cup is an international event at international standards with INTERNATIONAL PRICES! These guys are being played for suckers with all the old stories of 40% umemployment, unskilled etc. If you cant raise the living standards of your basic workers what hope will there be for cohesive future. Rich guys in their bmw's NEED gardeners, maids, labourers etc. Without them you would be nothing.. Steve");
document.write("The world system is tumbling like a card house
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document.write("The whole system is falling,the system gets rich ,while the human beings get poorer.cost of living is going up about 5% per anum ,more than salary increases.It all started in the 80s.We are a struggling nation. with 40 million slaves living here, and only about 1 million rich people.If the system is not going to change soon, the people will destroy it. . Frikkie Botes");
document.write("Don't try to find excuses for your expliotation
");
document.write("At the end of this month, try to pay your expenses with R2500. That's rent/bond, travel/car, food, health, insurance, clothing, education, etc.
I'm not saying pay these guys 15000 a month. All I'm saying is be reasonable. If you want to treat someone like dirt then don't expect them to behave in a civilized manner. Alwyn");
document.write("Grant/Alwyn
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document.write("With these guys, a contract is not worth the paper it is written on. To those like Alwyn come into the building trade and pay a labourer (reasonable / you tell me) and see how far you will get. It is a very competitive field, you will starve my friend. You see the difference overseas with production. If the Contractors who were responsible for the construction of the Beijing Olympics were here, these stadiums, would all have been completed. The Chinese Government, called in the contractors and asked them to slow down 18 months before completion, due to the fact that the facilities would be standing empty. Big, Big differences between African attitude's and the East. I won't even go into the skills level. Like day and night.. BUILDING CONTRACTOR");
document.write("Exploitation
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document.write("R2500 is a reasonable salary considering the skills required. How about you go risk your time and money, jump through 5000 hoops to ensure you adhere to Government and industry regulations, listen to 5000 staffs problem, make sure that your staff is paid at the end of the month regardless if people pay you, if work is done on time, if banks cut down on credit or staff is stealing you blind. If you don't want to be exploited, start your own business since it's so easy, otherwise shut the F@ck up.. L_M");
document.write("L_M
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document.write("If being a business owner is such a schlep to you, then why did you go there? FOR THE MONEY! So don't expect us to feel sorry for you. It is my democratic right to say what I feel should be said and not you nor anyone for that matter will shut me the #### up. It's because there are people who exploit workers that the tables are turning. Alwyn");
document.write("TO ALL THE WISE ONE'S WHO ARE NOT IN THE ...............
");
document.write("BUILDING TRADE. LET ME ASK YOU THE FOLLOWING;
1. You get 2 quotes. Builder (A) R100,000.00 and builder (B) 130,000.00.
2. Builder (B) you like his presentation and references.
3. Your question to builder (B) is why can he not do the same work for R100,000.00.
4. Let me explain Sir! I do not pay my labourers what other builders pay. I pay a general employee R4,000.00 per month. I pay a Mason R8,000.00 per month and that is why I am more expensive than builder (A)
Now you wise asses on this site tell me that you will take builder (B). I rest my case.. BUILDING CONTRACTOR");
document.write("I agree with Building Contractor
");
document.write("make the call to China and get them in to finish, the work will be done and it will be done well at half the price, that way no construction companies make money and the people stay poor, I work in the oil industry and have dealt with the chinese before and most of these guys are happy to be working for 3 square meals a day, wanna see any South African worker do that.. Kurt");
document.write("@ Alwyn
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document.write("Alwyn, you're a pain in the @ss. Why don't you make your way over to the nearest construction site and go kiss some democratic construction worker @ss!. Pro-change");
document.write("Workers
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document.write("There has to be a compromise - low skill,low pay - they are not asking for a huge increase,just a living wage.The cost of the stadiums is huge,the salaries for labour small - give the increases,BUT,tie it up to productivity - so much a day commission for that amount of work - stop salaries - old fashioned - do this,i pay that,per hour/day.This way everyone will wake up !!! and productivity will increase.. WARREN");
document.write("Chill
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document.write("Umm, it is just a strike. They will haggle a bit, the workers will get a small increase, and on we go.
It is not the end of the world, it is not the long awaited death-knell for SA and the world cup that a handful of desperate 'bitter-einders' have been longing for.
Its just a strike. And guess what - they happen all over the world every day, even in those '1st world' countries that some of our best racists have fled to.
So, once again, chill - the guys need more pay, they will figure it out in the next few days, back on schedule.
Moenie wurrrrryyyy nie!. Dean");
document.write("WARREN
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document.write("Your idea is good but it does not work. Let me explain. I recently had to do work of R85,000.00. 2 masons on site agreed on R6,600.00 per mason for wetwork only, paid in hard cash. They spent 12 working days on the job. They never came back to work after being paid. They came back 2 weeks later. Where have you been, I asked. Sorry Sir! We went home for the w/end. FACT Earned too much. FNB had a MILLION RAND COMPETITION SOMETIME AGO. One of my workmen won +-R28,000.00. He dis-appeared for 4 months then came back destitute begging for his job. Well unless you are in Construction you have no idea of the amount of SH&T we have to put up with. You want head-aches wait until PENALTIES catch up with you. My heart bleeds for those subbies on the stadiums.. BUILDING CONTRACTOR");
document.write("typical workers
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document.write("This is the typical attitude of workers with no skills and knowledge. I had some work done on my property, paid the guys (which I picked up on the side of the road) R250 a day which is extremely good for no qualifications, close to the end of the job they all downed tools and wanted an increase, @$%#ing @@sholes would not do anything more till I paid them more, this was for a job that only took 6 weeks. Ended up getting in a contractor who finished the job in 1 week and saved me loads of money. I ended up getting calls from the guys that wanted the increase asking if I had a job for them again, go figure.. jay");
document.write("Do The Sums
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document.write("Has anyone thought this through?
If the average worker earns R2500 pm the difference between the demanded wage increase (13% on wage only) and that offered (10%) is only R17.31 pw or R75.00pm. (for those that care, its just 39c per hour)
These idiots have been on strike for how many hours? How many hours would they need to work to catch up on the lost income? If I could hold on to R40m (that’s assuming I don’t pay anyone who is striking) for just one extra week, how much interest would I earn?
Let these idiots strike!! South Africa may loose the World Cup, but at the end of the day, the rich WILL get richer and, in this lot I include the union officials who will still be paid to support the striking, while these striking idiots will be the ones who suffer. (I deal with unions on a daily basis and wish I could get this into their heads!)
. anti-union");
document.write("super brains
");
document.write("Due the extremely brainy union leaders thinking this one through. If this brilliant strike continues, say for 3-6 months, October or December this year... the world cup will have been pulled from our country and given to some other country. Our workers can then strike permanently because there will be no more work, no more construction companies and no more future. another excellent day in africa...... maybe they should pay a visit to the BEE Construction Company, ie black owned company that was paid R58 million rand and did not lift a spade on site.... ice");
document.write("Modern slavery
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document.write("Money is the modern slavery , you are controlled by the fact that you need money to live. Isn't it about time we changed to a more modern human friendly system of slavery ?. forkmoney");
document.write("FIFA
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document.write("Should step in with the following hard-ass attitude.Get back to work. You have 24 hrs or we are taking the World Cup to Beijing. I will bet my life, and savings that if you give it to the Chinese they will be ready in 15 months time. TREAT FIRE WITH FIRE IN AFRICA. VIVA ANC VIVA! YOU WILL HAVE ANOTHER 2 STRIKES BEFORE COMPLETION. LOCUSTS NEVER GIVE UP, UNTIL EVERYTHING IS GONE, THATS WHY THEY ARE STARVING IN ZIM.. BUILDING CONTRACTOR");
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