The strike of Brazilian Olympic venue construction workers reported on earlier this week has ended as quickly as it began, with the employer unions and workers reaching reconciliation on the disputed wage increase that initiated the protest. According to sporttv, workers were back to active duty as of the night shift on Wednesday. Brazilian mayor Eduardo Paes, insists that the strike “did not cause delays in the Olympic works.”
In January at the start of talks between workers and employers, the workers originally demanded a 15% wage increase, but were talked down to an 8.5% asking figure. “We will not be radical, that’s not what the workers want,” said the president of the Union of Heavy Construction Workers (SITRAICP), Nilson Duarte, at the time. The final increase of 8% as written within the newly formed agreement, will be retroactive as of February 1st of this year. Additionally, all of whom did not work during the two days of the strike will make up the time missed within the next 60 days.
Although resolved quickly, the construction worker strike is yet another concern added to the list of issues associated with the readiness of Rio for the world’s biggest sporting competition. Pollution, start times of actual events such as swimming and beach volleyball, as well as the recent announcement that the water polo venue will most likely need to move due to readiness of the facility, have all pulled into question just how prepared Rio will be once the August 5th opening ceremony date is upon us.
Hank, you have a prejudice against Latin American Countries. Yes, they have the crime and their wages are less than the US but many Latin American countries are developing. There are start up companies in Brazil its not all urban ghetto. In fact in 20 years Brazil or Mexico will probably be at the level of Mississippi which isn’t that hard since Mississippi pretty much doesn’t much to advance its self as the poorest US state..
They could construct an artificial lake pretty easily that was clean and secure.
Upon further reflection, why don’t they have a 5000m and 10000m pool event instead of open water? It would be much safer for the swimmers. Maybe Ledecky could qualify too
I’m all about swimmer safety, but the open water events are so much more than just a 5k or 10k for time, I think doing them in the pool would really change the nature of the event.
I’d be more inclined to say let’s outsource the open water events to a place that has clean water.
I am more concerned with water quality. The open water swimmers are in serious danger. I would recommend the USA boycott that event. They will never clean up the problem because it is too big