World Cup protests continue in Durban as labor dispute affects half of stadiums

WCup labor protests continue in Durban

DURBAN, South Africa — Several hundred security workers at the World Cup have gathered in Durban to protest labor conditions in a dispute that has spread to half the tournament’s stadiums.

The security stewards say they have been banned from working. They sang and chanted slogans ahead of a planned march Wednesday to city hall. Police kept watch but did not intervene.

Late Sunday, police used force to break up a demonstration outside Durban’s World Cup stadium, firing rubber bullets, tear gas and flash grenades at protesting workers.

Police have since taken over security at five of the World Cup’s 10 stadiums.

Stallion Security Consortium was hired by World Cup organizers to provide the stewards for those venues. No wage problems have surfaced among stewards at the other five stadiums, who work for a different contractor.