Rio workers call off World Cup strike

Rio de Janeiro - Subway workers in Rio de Janeiro called off a strike threat, but their peers in Sao Paulo will decide on Wednesday whether to walk out during the World Cup's opening game.

Rio metro staff agreed late on Tuesday on an 8% percent wage increase in the latest labour dispute to hit Brazil before the football tournament kicks off on Thursday.

In Sao Paulo, subway workers decided on Monday to suspend a five-day strike that threatened to cause traffic chaos during the Brazil-Croatia opening game around the city's new Corinthians Arena.

But they will meet again on Wednesday to vote on whether to resume the work-stoppage.

After failing to get a pay hike, they are now demanding that their employers re-hire 42 workers who were fired for causing trouble during the strike.