P.M.’s call rejected

Press, 15 April 1978, Page 6

P.M.’s call rejected

The President of the Federation of Labour (Sir Thomas Skinner) has rejected a call from the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) to lower the F.O.L.’s general wage order application, the Press Association reports. The application would remain at 14 per cent. Sir Thomas said last evening. Mr Muldoon called for an amended application after the announcement of the lowest quarterly increase in the consumers price index since 1972. The 2 per cent increase in the latest quarter’s index in ail groups, compared wilh the December, 1977, quarter, converted to an annual inflation rate of 8.2

per cent. This represented a return to single-figure inflation, Mr Muldoon said.

“Sir Thomas said recently that when we got back to single-figure inflation he would seek singlefigure general wage orders. The time has now come for him to carry out his undertaking and amend his general wage order application accordingly.” Mr Muldoon said. Sir Thomas said that if the yearly inflation rate dropped to single figures, the federation would consider this in a wage order application for next year. “We will look at it next year, but the present wage

order is for the last year when inflation was at 16 and 17 per cent,” he said. A general wage order decision in July has been predicted by Sir Thomas. He said yesterday that the F.O.K and the Public Service Association would present submissions to the new' Arbitration Court on April 26, 27, and 28. It would be early June before the Employers’ Federation replied.

The Court would adjourn again for a short time to allow the federation to prepare its summing up. and a decision could be expected in early July, he said.