HOPES FOR PAY RISES

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33110, 28 December 1972, Page 3

HOPES FOR PAY RISES

N.Z. clothing workers

(N.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Dec. 27. Manufacturers should come to the pay-negotiating table with realistic offers, said the national secretary of the Clothing Workers’ Federation (Mr F. B. Thorn) today.

Workers, he said, were happy to read that the president of the Manufacturers’ Federation (Mr F. Turnovsky) viewed next year with great optimism. They were also aware of the “Christmas present” manufacturers and exporters received when the Government declined to follow Australia’s revaluation of the dollar.

“We are confident that when they come to the negotiating table that the benefits showered on them will be reflected in a realistic offer to clothing workers," Mr Thorn said.

“For too long the clothing worker has been the Cinderella of working people. This time we are confident that they will get a wage which reflects their high degree of skill and training.”

Mr Thorn said he was also happy to note that Mr Turnovsky did not oppose the justice of equal pay. Negotiations for the main clothing award (the base for many clothing awards) begin on February 13. Mr Thorn said that the workers would concentrate on wages, holiday pay, sick pay, redundancy, and boosting the female rate from about 67 per cent to 80 per cent of the male rate.