Hours before South African unions were due to announce a prolonged strike, unions and the government agreed to wage talks on Thursday. A spokesman for a union said that they were happy about the talks, and hoped that the government would offer something close to their demands. Unions are seeking a 8.6% pay increase and a 1000 rand housing allowance. The unions have threatened a long strike unless a deal is reached by Thursday. The government is expected to give in to the unions' demands. On Wednesday, the auto workers went on strike after failing to have their demands met.
See "S. Africa government, unions plan deadline strike talks", Reuters, August 10, 2010