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World Cup 2014: Airport Workers Kick Off Strike In Rio, Just As Fans Descend On Brazil...

Airport Workers Kick Off Strike In Rio, Just As Fans Descend On City...
The Huffington Post UK
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Metro workers meeting at their union headquarters in Sao Paulo, Brazil on June 11, 2014 during the session where they decided the end of their strike, on the eve of the opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2014. AFP PHOTO / NELSON ALMEIDA (Photo credit should read NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images)
NELSON ALMEIDA via Getty Images

An airport workers' strike has kicked of in Rio, just before the World Cup's opening match.

Ground staff at Rio de Janeiro’s two airports declared a partial work stoppage beginning at midnight Wednesday.

With more than three million Brazilians and 600,000 foreigners expected to travel in Brazil during the tournament, the strike will raise fears of delays as thousands of football fans descend on the city.

Other strikes have recently crippled Brazilian cities as unions exert leverage at a time when the government is trying to avert major problems.

READ MORE: 14 Powerful Pictures Of Anti-Fifa Graffiti In Brazil

Rio’s Galeao international airport is expected to be one of the country’s busiest during the month-long football tournament, which wraps up with the final match in Rio on July 13.

The walkout also would affect Santos Dumont airport, which provides domestic service, including flights to Sao Paulo, where the first World Cup game was being held Thursday.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW:

Is Brazil ready to host a World Cup?
(01 of17)
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The Tancredo Neves International Airport in Confins (MG), is the gateway to thousands of Brazilians and foreign tourists for the next five weeks... Or at least it will be if it's finished.
(02 of17)
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When the pictures were taken, still less than half of the proposed works for the World Cup have been completed. (credit:LINCON ZARBIETTI/O TEMPO/ESTADÃO CONTEÚDO)
(03 of17)
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Brazilian authorities insist they're ready, but passengers may find themselves in for a rough landing. (credit:LINCON ZARBIETTI/O TEMPO/ESTADÃO CONTEÚDO)
(04 of17)
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Experts blame poor planning and excessive government control for the airport problems (credit:Instagram/@lunagontijoresende)
(05 of17)
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President Dilma Rousseff has dismissed complaints that Brazil isn't ready. (credit:LINCON ZARBIETTI/O TEMPO/ESTADÃO CONTEÚDO)
(06 of17)
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"We aren't building airports just for the World Cup, just for FIFA," President Dilma Rousseff recently said. "We are building for Brazilians." (credit:Instagram/@flabarros_1975)
(07 of17)
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The Tancredo Neves International Airport, however, looks far from ready. (credit:Instagram/@mthzbarbosa)
(08 of17)
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Arriving tourists will be sharing the airport with dozens of workers. (credit:Instagram/@gvizane)
(09 of17)
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This, meanwhile, is the state of a stadium building site. Work is continuing at the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil. (credit:AP)
(10 of17)
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On the eve of the first training session of Uruguay's national football team, employees of a cleaning company pose for a picture at the Arena do Jacare in Sete Lagoas. (credit:Getty Images)
(11 of17)
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Brazilian Army soldiers take part in a simulated explosion of a radioactive device at Mane Garrincha National Stadium during a safety drill at Mane Garrincha National stadium in Brasilia on June 9. (credit:Getty Images)
(12 of17)
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This May 9, 2014 shows that work continues at the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil. (credit:AP)
(13 of17)
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Workers fix a banner before the 2014 soccer World Cup at the Arena da Baixada stadium in Curitiba, Brazil,
(14 of17)
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A graffiti depicting Tatubola, the mascot of the World Cup, on a wall of the Maracana metro station, as restoration works take place. (credit:Getty Images)
(15 of17)
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Men at work in the unfinished Arena Corinthians stadium, in Sao Paulo (credit:EPA)
(16 of17)
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A worker puts cement on the floor of the unfinished Arena Corinthians stadium, in Sao Paulo (credit:EPA)
(17 of17)
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A man paints the floor of a decoration on June 8, 2014 in Itaquera neighborhood, on the east side of Sao Paulo, Brazil, near the Arena Sao Paulo stadium, where the opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2014 will take place. (credit:Getty Images)

Unions representing workers at the two airports including check-in counter clerks, baggage handlers and janitorial staff have been seeking for months raises of at least 5.6% and special bonuses tied to the World Cup.

The umbrella union that represents the workers is calling for World Cup bonuses, better working conditions and raises of up to 12%, but says employers are offering a maximum of 8%.

READ MORE:

"After nine months of intense but failed negotiations and intransigence from employers, the Rio de Janeiro Municipal Airports Employees' Union confirms it will strike on June 12," the union said on its website.

A union representative said only 20% of workers would walk off the job for 24 hours initially.

A labour court in Rio issued an injunction ordering the unions to maintain staffing at 80% of normal levels or face fines of up to $22,400.

Meanwhile, subway workers in Sao Paulo voted on Wednesday against resuming a five-day strike that would have caused traffic chaos during the opening game.

World Cup: Greatest Pictures
Chile '62(01 of30)
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English referee Ken Aston tries in vain to reach an armistice during The Battle of Santiago between hosts Chile and Italy. (credit:Getty)
England '66(02 of30)
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Alf Ramsey does his utmost to prevent George Coen from swapping shirts with Argentina's Alberto Gonzalez. The England manager described the opponents as "animals". (credit:Getty)
England '66(03 of30)
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"They think it's all over... it is now." Possibly the most celebrated picture in English football, this is the moment Geoff Hurst became the first (and still only) player to hit a hat-trick in a World Cup final to secure England's victory against West Germany. The wide scale, the scoreboard in the background, the Wembley bowl, the divots in the pitch and Hurst in flight contribute to a genuinely iconic image.
Mexico '70(04 of30)
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Two genuine greats and one great picture.
(05 of30)
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Pelé and Tostão react deliriously after Carlos Alberto smashes in the greatest team goal in football history. (credit:Getty)
Mexico '70(06 of30)
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Pelé jumps into Jairzinho's arms after opening the scoring on his last World Cup appearance in the 1970 final. The brilliant Brazil side is perhaps the greatest to grace a finals, as they scored 19 goals in six matches, including that fourth and final unforgettable team goal at the Estadio Azteca.
West Germany '74(07 of30)
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The greatest team never to win the World Cup? Johan Cruyff, Jan Jongbloed, Arie Haan, Piet Keizer, Wim Rijsbergen, Johnny Rep, Wim Suurbier, Wim Jansen, Willem van Hanegem, Ruud Krol and Johan Neeskens line up for Holland in West Germany. Cruyff's shirt featured two stripes - rather than the adidas three - because Puma supplied his boots. (credit:Getty)
Argentina '78(08 of30)
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Archie Gemmill eyes up Holland goalkeeper Jan Jongbloed before dinking the ball over him to finish Scotland's greatest ever World Cup goal. (credit:PA)
Argentina '78(09 of30)
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Argentina's World Cup final win came amid a flurry of paper and ticker tape, as South American natives decorated Buenos Aires' Estadio Monumental with blue and white. It was the tournament of the Adidas Tango. (credit:Getty)
Argentina '78(10 of30)
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Holland are defeated in a second successive final as Mario Kempes takes the acclaim from a partisan crowd in Buenos Aires. (credit:Getty)
Spain '82(11 of30)
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The colour. Brazil players and fans celebrate Socrates' strike in the 1982 semi-final against Italy. (credit:Getty)
Spain '82(12 of30)
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Harald Schumacher prepares to play the man - Patrick Battiston - rather than the ball. (credit:Getty)
Spain '82(13 of30)
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Marco Tardelli celebrates doubling Italy's lead in the 1982 final against West Germany. Italy's first World Cup win in 44 years, the picture of the Juventus man does not do his elated celebration justice, unlike television images. (credit:PA)
Mexico 86(14 of30)
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Pat Jennings maintains his balance as Josimar's howitzer flies past him and into the back of the net. (credit:PA)
Mexico '86(15 of30)
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"If the first was illegal, the second is one of the best we've seen in this championship," said an understated Barry Davies after Diego Maradona's ingenious solo goal against England. It is testament to Maradona's majesty that the Hand of God - a shameless act of cheating - did not sully his humiliation of the England side. This image illustrates Peter Shilton's own culpability. How could he let a 5ft 5in opponent outjump him? (credit:Getty)
Italia '90(16 of30)
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Claudio Caniggia nurses his wounds after three Cameroonians attempted to upend him, with Benjamin Massing succeeding - and receiving a red card. (credit:Getty)
Italia '90(17 of30)
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Wannabe Colombian sweeper René Higuita is pickpocketed by Roger Milla and desperately tries to catch the Cameroonian, who became the oldest scorer at a World Cup finals 24 years ago. (credit:Getty)
Italia '90(18 of30)
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Frank Rijkaard prepares to spit into Rudi Voller's perm for a second time. (credit:Getty)
Italia '90(19 of30)
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Toto Schillaci does his best Marco Tardelli impression against Argentina. (credit:Getty)
Italia '90(20 of30)
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Lothar Matthäus eschews the West German bundle to console Chris Waddle, whose missed penalty ensured England bowed out of the 1990 finals at the semi-final stage. (credit:Getty)
Italia '90(21 of30)
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Paul Gascoigne welled up when he received the yellow card which would have prevented him from featuring in the Italia '90 final, but sobbed uncontrollably after England were eliminated by West Germany on penalties. England's great heroic failure, Italia '90 remains their most successful World Cup tournament since 1966. (credit:Getty)
USA '94(22 of30)
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Brazilian players jump for joy after their shootout victory in the Pasadena final, as a crestfallen Roberto Baggio stares at the pitch following his missed penalty. Franco Baresi and Daniele Massaro also failed to convert spotkicks for the Italians, but Baggio had illuminated the tournament with five goals. He wasn't the last striker to choke in a final... (credit:Getty)
USA '94(23 of30)
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Cláudio Taffarel raises a triumphant hand while Gianluigi Pagliluca buries his head in his hands after Brazil win the World Cup final on penalties. (credit:Getty)
France '98(24 of30)
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Roberto Ayala is left stunned by Dennis Bergkamp's ingenuity, while Carlos Roa is powerless to thwart the Dutchman's stunning winner. (credit:Getty)
France '98(25 of30)
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Ronaldo, forlorn, comes to terms with Brazil's 3-0 final defeat against France. Regarded as the greatest player in the world, the Internazionale striker suffered a convulsive fit the night before the game and was initially removed from the starting line-up 72 minutes before the match, but requested to play and was reinstated by coach Mario Zagallo. He was a shadow of the tormentor who had plundered four goals already that tournament. (credit:PA)
Japan and South Korea 2002(26 of30)
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Although Ronaldo's redemption in Yokahama was the highlight of the tournament, the enduring image from 2002 is that of Argentina's cowardly wall. Favourites for the finals, the irony of this image is that it was captured during the only win of their disastrous group stage. Victory over Nigeria was followed by defeat to England and elimination at the hands of Sweden. Ariel Ortega (left), Javier Zanetti (second left), Gabriel Batistuta (centre) and Diego Simeone (right) never played at another World Cup. (credit:Reuters)
Japan and South Korea 2002(27 of30)
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Francesco Totti and his Italian teammates are left astonished and apoplectic after referee Byron Moreno decides to flourish a second yellow card and send him off in their round-of-16 match with the Koreans. (credit:Getty)
Germany 2006(28 of30)
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Zinedine Zidane, the greatest player of his generation, was so prone to volatility he was sent off more times than Roy Keane in his career. On his last professional appearance, he was dismissed for headbutting Italy centre-back Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup final. Referee Horacio Elizondo had already dismissed Wayne Rooney in the tournament for stamping on Ricardo Carvalho's testicles, and flourished the red card again. Zidane had already announced he would retire after the tournament, and a Japanese photographer captured solemn juxtaposition as he headed for the tunnel. (credit:Getty)
South Africa 2010(29 of30)
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Luis Suárez deputises for goalkeeper Fernando Muslera to prevent Ghana from becoming the first African World Cup semi-finalists. Asamoah Gyan hit the crossbar from the penalty spot with the final kick of extra-time and Uruguay won on penalties. (credit:Getty)
South Africa 2010(30 of30)
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The worst World Cup in living memory, although Spain were the best side at the tournament they were one of the most stultifying. Holland were criticised for their anti-Total Football in the final, but their fouling stimulated a turgid tournament marred by African sycophancy, uninitiated crowds and vuvuzelas. Nigel de Jong's scandalous thud into Xabi Alonso's chest was the most infamous moment of a forgettable final. (credit:Getty)
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