No agreement was reached between 500 dismissed workers at the Mbombela stadium and the Mbombela Stadium Joint Venture (Basil Read/Bouygues Civil Works) in Nelspruit on Friday.

On Thursday it was reported that the workers and management were on the verge of a settlement.

Spokesman for MSJV Eugene du Toit said negotiations closed on Friday afternoon and talks would resume next week.

"We have settled on most situations except on the issue of the shop stewards. "We want to take disciplinary action against shop stewards who played major roles in the illegal strike due to the vandalism and losses incurred," he said.

Du Toit said this would be in terms of labour laws and they would not budge on the issue.

The National Union Of Mineworkers (NUM) said that they were on the verge of a settlement but nothing had been signed.

The 500 were fired for an illegal strike at the Mbombela stadium.

They were demanding nightshift allowances, bonuses and better working conditions.

Spokesman for the workers James Maseko said the protest followed management's refusal to pay them an R800 nightshift allowance.