Strikes Spread, Players Scab While: World Cup Showcases Imperialism and Nationalism

On June 11, the World Cup of Soccer began in South Africa. It is the world’s largest sporting event, watched by billions around the globe. Ideologically, the World Cup is fueled by the deadly nationalism of the imperialist epoch. Imperialism has left its mark all over the event. The biggest imperialist powers’ soccer teams are overwhelmingly filled with players from their former colonies and the African teams are all coached by Europeans.

In South Africa one-third of all workers are unemployed and nearly 70 percent of South African children live in poverty but yet the ANC government found $107 billion to host the event. After construction workers building the stadiums went on strike, the ANC moved to ban strikes during the World Cup.

But as soon as the games started the security guards that work the stadiums struck over low wages at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium — and were met by police firing teargas and rubber bullets. The security guards said their take-home pay was just R135 ($17.68) per match — working 12-16 hour days on average — and they had to fork over R1,200 ($157.62) for uniforms. The players have continued to play, effectively scabbing on the workers.

Thousands of people marched in Durban on June 16th, the 34th anniversary of the Soweto uprising against apartheid (see page 8) — in solidarity with Stallon Security workers. Demonstrators also highlighted the treatment of traders who have been forcibly removed from the FIFA exclusion zones in which only licensed traders were allowed to operate. Chants of “Get out FIFA mafia” echoed through the streets.

Other workers complained of being forced away from their normal fishing grounds near luxury hotels and the Durban seafront. Rajeen Inderjeeth held a handwritten sign saying, “We will fish against your rules.”

Sections of Johannesburg’s bus drivers held a wildcat strike at the start of the week over unilateral route changes.

Hundreds of people marched on the United States consulate in Johannesburg protesting cuts in international funding to prevent HIV/Aids in Africa. Activists wearing green T-shirts and carrying placards took part. Several organizations, including the Treatment Action Campaign and Cosatu, are leading the protest over cuts in HIV/Aids funding.

Workers worldwide should shoot down the bosses’ nationalism with internationalism — the idea that workers everywhere have the same class interest in opposing the world’s bosses, no matter what their origin. Capitalism caused the poverty — now exacerbated by the World Cup — that has wrecked South Africa. The nationalism promoted in part by the World Cup fuels capitalism’s imperialist adventures all around the world and exploitation at home. The workers’ real goal worth shooting for isn’t a World Cup victory, but communism.