Striking Sun International workers were returning to their posts from Tuesday, with all 4500 expected back at work by the latest, Thursday, their union said.

Sun International and the South African Catering and Commercial Allied Workers' Union (Saccawu) settled their wage dispute on Friday, bringing an end to a seven-week strike.

"While the striking workers did not see all their demands met, the significance of the victory should not be underestimated," Saccawu spokesman Mike Abrahams said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Because of the drawn out nature of the dispute, and the since we once again were on the eve of wage negotiations, the union felt it was a strategic necessity to enter into a two-year agreement, which was accepted by both parties."

The deal

Under the agreement, the minimum wage increases from R66 479 to R72 295 per year from July 2009, with an across-the-board increase of 8.75 percent also effective from July 1, 2009 and an increase of the greater of CPI plus 1.75 percent or 7.75 percent from July 2010.

Shift allowances increase to R3 an hour from July 1, 2009, and the home ownership subsidy scheme limit increases from R100 000 to R135 000 with a subsidy of 30 percent now available to employees with between two and five years service, who were previously excluded.

Educational assistance also increases from R5000 to R8000.

Abrahams said the agreement also provided for the extension of the bargaining unit to a range of supervisory categories previously excluded, while others would be included to access benefits.

Housekeeping supervisors would also benefit from the increases.

"The issues of averaging of hours of work and scheduling of permanent staff and other unresolved matters will be explored in future interactions," he said.

At the time the agreement was signed, Sun International chief executive David Coutts-Trotter said the company believed the increases were generous, in light of the recession, the pressures on the hospitality and gaming industry, other increases in the marketplace and CPI.