Pay talks in Britain fail

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33424, 4 January 1974, Page 9

Pay talks in Britain fail

CV.Z. Press Association—Copyright

LONDON, Januan 3.

A sharp blow has been delivered to Britons’ hopes for an early end to the crippling three-day working week: the

“peace*’ talks between the coalminers’ leaders and National Coal Board officials broke up after only 90 minutes yesterday, and no further meeting was arranged.

Government figures list 730,000 workers as temporarily unemployed because of the three-day week, but the figure does not include the 190,000 people who were unemployed before the crisis began, nor the thousands of other workers who did not register because they are protected under minimum wage agreements.

Economists quoted by United Press International say that the number of workers laid off because of the coal and oil shortages may well reach 15 million before long.

The National Coal Board maintained yesterday that the miners qualified only for an extra 40p to 70p (NZ62c to SNZI.O9) a week for time spent in preparing for work and in washing afterwards. The miners’ leaders had hoped that the payment for this “waiting time” would amount to about £3 (SNZ4.6B) in addition to the board’s original increased pay offer. The miners are holding out for a deal which would give coalface workers an extra £l3 a week, bringing their average pay to slightly more than £6O a week.

The National Coal Board is offering an extra £ll to coalface workers with average earnings of about £47 a week.

I The vice-president of the miners’ union, Mr Mick McGahey, commented: "If I the Coal Board is not prei pared to pay, the miners’ action will continue. It may be: [necessary to make the over-! 'time ban into a strike. On[ [the basis of the sort of fig-, lures being kicked around to-[ [day, there is no basis for a J settlement. We cannot accept l [these figures. They just do [not make sense.” ’ I Settlement of the British: 'Rail train-drivers’ dispute l [seemed no nearer last night,| [after more than three hours of talks between Railways! Board officials and leaders of | the three railway unions. Union officials say that an-i other meeting may be held; tomorrow.