South Africa: Municipal workers end strike after pay deal

South Africa's council workers' union said on Friday it had won a pay increase almost twice the rate of inflation, ending a five-day strike that challenged President Jacob Zuma's economic policies. "The wage agreement has now been signed and this effectively brings to an end the strike which has been raging all week," the SAMWU union said in a statement. The strike left rubbish piled up on streets and licensing offices closed. Workers settled for a 13 percent pay rise after demanding 15 percent. Inflation is running at 6.9 percent.