WAGE OFFER REJECTED

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26869, 23 October 1952, Page 9

WAGE OFFER REJECTED

ENGINEERS’ UNION IN BRITAIN LONDON, October 21. The Confederation of Engineering and Shipbuilding Unions in Britain today rejected a wage offer from the employers renewing the risk of a nation-wide overtime ban in the engineering industry to back up their demands. The union ban on overtime, due to be enforced yesterday, was averted when tiie employees agreed to meet the unions for compromise talks. The employers today first offered a rise of about 5s a week, but raised this to 7s 4d when the union leaders warned that they had power to order an overtime ban at any time. The union representatives said they could not accept this compromise offer to their £2 weekly demand, and said they would put the issue to a full meeting of executive officers from 38 unions on October 29. Increase for Railwaymen British railwaymen numbering 445,000 received an all-round pay increase of 7s a week today. The increase brings the lowest rate for an adult male railway worker to £5 17s 6d a week. Hie railway unions had demanded a 10 per cent, increase on the lowest rates, but the current award by the Railway Staff National Tribunal represents a 7 per cent, increase.