DHAKA: Ground staff at Rio de Janeiro's airports plan to stage a 24-hour partial strike on Thursday, the day Brazil hosts the opening match of the football World Cup.

The workers vowed to maintain 80 percent service but the strike will raise fears of delays as thousands of football fans descend on the city around the opening match in Sao Paulo and the first game in Rio on Sunday.

The walkout, which takes effect from midnight on Wednesday, will affect Rio's Galeao international airport, and the Santos Dumon airport, which provides domestic services to Sao Paulo.

Al Jazeera has been unable to confirm if the city's Jacarepagua airport will also be affected.

Sao Paulo, which hosts Thursday's opening match between Brazil and Croatia, is a 40-minute flight from Rio, reports Al-Jazeera.

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

"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.

BDST: 1012 HRS, JUN 12, 2014