WAGE RESTRAINTS IN BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25970, 25 November 1949, Page 7

WAGE RESTRAINTS IN BRITAIN

Policy Approved By TALC. SUPPORT GIVEN GOVERNMENT (N.Z.P.A. —Reuter—Copyright) LONDON. November 23. -Leaders of the British Trades Union Congress to-day approved a policy of wage restraint designed to support the Government’s economic recovery programme. They urged the 8,000,000 members of the congress to agree to work until January. 1951, at their present basic wage rates. An appeal sent out to the 187 affiliated trade unions to-night urges that wage rates should remain stable so long as the index of retail prices does not rise or fall more than six points—an equivalent of about 7s 6d a household a week. The general council of the congress undertakes that special regard will be given to the possibility of assisting lower-paid by incentive schemes, and says that it will intensify its campaign for increased productivity and greater efficiency in industry. It recommends a review within each industry to see if the systems of payment by results can be extended. The new policy was accepted unanimously by the 17 leaders of the congress in committee after seven weeks of intense discussion, including several meetings with Cabinet Ministers. It was adopted by the full general council to-day, with only two members dissenting. The general secretary (Mr Vincent Tewson) said that the T.U.C. expected employers to exercise more restraint in the payment of- dividends, and added: “We have an assurance that there will be no budgetary action which will attempt to take any further advantage of these proposals we have made, to the detriment of our enemies.”