S. African World Cup Laborers End Strike

South African construction workers tasked with building facilities for the 2010 World Cup today called off their week-long strike after 15 hours, clearing a major obstacle in the country’s preparations to host to the world’s most watched sports competition, AFP reports. Construction firms agreed to give the roughly 70,000 laborers a 12% raise in an agreement that extends for 1 year.

“We only hope that the construction industry has learned a lesson, not to take for granted issues of their employees. This is the only way we can avoid strikes,” said a union rep. South Africa is building five brand-new stadiums for the event, and upgrading five existing venues. (More strike stories.)