National News
Protesting guards 'misled'
2010-06-14 20:01
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Durban - Security guards who went on the rampage over wages at Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban on Monday were misled by disgruntled rival security companies which did not get the World Cup tender, their employer said.
"We strongly believe that they have been misled by security companies which did not get the tender," said Tebogo Lehlokoe of Stallion security.
Lehlokoe met with the disgruntled security guards at the stadium gates.
The talks ended when the police ordered them to disperse, telling them the gathering was illegal. They complied.
Lehlokoe said some security guards had apologised for what they had done and had pleaded with him to be allowed to continue to work.
It was sad that this decision did not lie with his company, he said.
"It’s up to the police to decide whether they want them in or not because they (security guards) are responsible for the security of the stadium."
Rights
However, other security guards were adamant that their concerns were valid and had to be addressed by their employer.
They claimed that Stallion security had failed to tell them how much they would earn.
"This strike could have been avoided a long time ago. We held meetings and we informed our bosses that we had concerns, but they ignored us," said a security guard who did not want to be named.
He would not apologise. He was fighting for his rights, he said.
He was shocked to learn of the huge disparities in the salaries earned by workers at the different games.
"They just look at you in your face and decide how much you will get. Some got R190 and some got R205. This was done because there was no agreement on the issue of salaries before we started."
Lehlokoe said the workers would be informed about the outcome of negotiations on their concerns.