After a one-day strike, workers at Rio de Janeiro's Maracanã stadium "returned to work on Tuesday," according to Marcelo Baltar of GLOBO ESPORTE. The union representing the workers has asked for better benefits from the consortium in charge of the reforms, and they are "very close to reaching this objective." Rio de Janeiro Governor Sérgio Cabral entered the negotiations and made a better offer to the workers who have asked for a 15% increase in their salary along, R$330 ($168) in food vouchers and private health insurance for their families, amongst other things. Cabral has agreed to a 11% increase in salaries and the R$330 in food vouchers (GLOBO ESPORTE, 2/19). SOCCEREX noted the Maracanã was originally due to reopen on Dec. 31, but is now set to stage its first game on June 2. The stadium is one of the venues scheduled to host Confederations Cup matches starting on June 16. FIFA set April 15 as the new deadline for the stadium to be finished and the organization "stressed the deadline will not be further extended" (SOCCEREX, 2/19).
