By . David Kent . Brazilian police have used tear gas to disperse about 100 striking subway workers from a station in central Sao Paulo, the city that will host the World Cup opener this week. Subway workers are on strike for higher wages and have violently clashed with police during recent protests. Authorities are expecting almost all of the fans attending Thursday’s opener in Sao Paulo to get to the stadium on the subway. Scroll down for video . Serious action: Police in Sao Paulo march forward after firing tear gas to disperse striking subway workers . Armed and dangerous: Police exit an armoured vehicle to deal with workers who are demanding a pay increase . Furious: Angry subway workers create a flaming wall as they protest over pay ahead of the World Cup . Union leader Alexandre Roland was one of the strikers hit by tear gas early Monday. He says that until the government sits down to negotiate, the strike will continue, even through the World Cup. The strike has thrown Sao Paulo’s gridlocked traffic into chaos. The metro area of 20 million relies heavily on the subway and overland commuter trains. On the run: Workers and members of the Homeless Workers' Movement try to escape the tear gas . On guard: Police protect the Ana Rosa subway station in Sao Paulo as unhappy workers demonstrate . Almost there: Subway workers have been striking for five days despite Brazil's World Cup opener against Croatia taking place on Thursday .
Brazil face Croatia in the World Cup's opening game in Sao Paulo on Thursday .
Subway workers have been striking for five days as they bid to receive a 12.2 per cent pay increase .
Authorities expect most fans to reach the Morumbi Stadium via the subway .
Workers have been offered an 8.7 per pay increase .
By . David Kent . Brazilian police have used tear gas to disperse about 100 striking subway workers from a station in central Sao Paulo, the city that will host the World Cup opener this week. Subway workers are on strike for higher wages and have violently clashed with police during recent protests. Authorities are expecting almost all of the fans attending Thursday’s opener in Sao Paulo to get to the stadium on the subway. Scroll down for video . Serious action: Police in Sao Paulo march forward after firing tear gas to disperse striking subway workers . Armed and dangerous: Police exit an armoured vehicle to deal with workers who are demanding a pay increase . Furious: Angry subway workers create a flaming wall as they protest over pay ahead of the World Cup . Union leader Alexandre Roland was one of the strikers hit by tear gas early Monday. He says that until the government sits down to negotiate, the strike will continue, even through the World Cup. The strike has thrown Sao Paulo’s gridlocked traffic into chaos. The metro area of 20 million relies heavily on the subway and overland commuter trains. On the run: Workers and members of the Homeless Workers' Movement try to escape the tear gas . On guard: Police protect the Ana Rosa subway station in Sao Paulo as unhappy workers demonstrate . Almost there: Subway workers have been striking for five days despite Brazil's World Cup opener against Croatia taking place on Thursday .
the fans attending Thursday’s opener in Sao Paulo to get to the stadium on the subway. Scroll down workers who are demanding a pay increase . wall as they protest over pay ahead of the World Subway workers have been striking for five days taking place on Thursday .