Decision today on wages

Press, 2 April 1980, Page 6

Decision today on wages

PA Wellington State servants should know today whether the Combined 'State Unions have persuaded the Government to pay their annual’ adjustment earlier than usual.' ■■ - The Cabinet committee on State services will meet today. C.S.U. officials met the Minister of State Services (Mr Thompson) at Parliament Buildings last evening. Also present was the Minister of Health (Mr Gair), who will deputise for Mr Thomp-. son when he is overseas this month. .

After .the meeting, the president of the C.S.U. (Mr D. H. Thorp) said it had been called to discuss aspects of the unions’ claim for the annual general adjustment to be paid now.

. The adjustment is usually [made in October, although a ichange to the Labour Dejpartment’s wage surveys has meant it could be made several months earlier.

Mr Thorp said the meeting had been constructive and he was reasonably confident that there was some scope for a settlement.

Strikes and stop-work meetings by freezing works meat inspectors who are members of the Public Service Association were also on the agenda. Mr Thorp was reluctant to discuss a statement by the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon), Who said he was unhappy about the P.S.A.’s attitude over the action of the meat inspectors and hinted it could influence the decision on the annual adjustment. “It could be reasonably assumed that we have been talking about that,” Mr Thorp said. • ’■ - / •