South African workers will vote today on a new wage offer from the government. The new offer is for a 7.5% pay increase and a 800 rand housing allowance. Unions were asking for a 8.6% pay increase and a 1000 rand housing allowance. Workers under labor federation Cosatu are not expected to approve the deal, but the Independent Labor Caucus says that their members seem to be split on the deal. Some analysts say that the deal might get approval from some workers who want to be paid again, but others think that the workers will hold out for their demands. Cosatu has called for a general strike of its 2 million members on September 2, which has the potential to disrupt the mining and manufacturing sectors of the South African economy.
See "Striking S. African workers vote on new wage offer", Peroshni Govender, Reuters, August 30, 2010