Power men may get 24p.c. rise

Press, 6 September 1980, Page 1

Power men may get 24p.c. rise

PA Wellington Elect ri cal supply. authority workers have agreed to a wage package which could mean increases of more than 24 per cent if the Government does not intervene. The agreement, reached yesterday after five days of negotiations, will. move power ..board workers on to State rates in November, with a 13.5 per cent increase, in October in the meantime. State rates are unlikely to move less than 13.5 per cent to 14 per cent which means that the 30Q0-odd power , board electricians, inspectors, linemen, and other staff could eventually . collect more than 24 per; cent. ■ ■ ■ ■ But the Minister of Labour (Mr Bolger) said last evening that the settlement was in; no way in accordance with what the Government and the Fed-, eration 'of . Labour had agreed would be “reasonable”./’" ; .;///'///-'•/’/'■ “It has ■ connotations of having your, cake and eating it top,?-;he’/said. .“It?, would have seemed, more logical to’ have moved to State linkage now/' and then picked up the State increase in November.” Mr Bolger said he wanted to see the ■ settlement in detail before making any .further comments. He had not discussed- it with ! the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) who is in New Delhi. ;■ /?.. .- .• - ■ .The : settlement - is. in three .parts: ' ,R • I.A 104 per. cent catchup to bring power board workers into line with State electrical- supply ' workers . fjom - the end'■ of the present award oh October 10.

2. Another 3.4. per, cent from October 10, making a total of 13.5 per cent, or

$27 to S2S a. week for a base-rate electrician. 3. The movement in the State electrical workers’ rate, less the 3.4 per cent, to apply from November 11 and subject to ratification by the Arbitration Court. A complicating factor in the ; talks was the union’s insistence on getting the same increase as.. other unions have settled on even if it meant, discounting the difference against the State movement in November k ■.. The secretary of the North Island Electrical Workers’, Union, Mr A/J. Neary, said that the settlement was fair and reasonable and in the best interests of the industry. It was reasonable to move ' workers on ,a■ , quasiGovemment" organisation on to the., same rate as State - staff ’ '■ ‘1" /.. The : union ' and.” theemployers .would; ;make a joint application 'to • the Court to have the State linkage ratified, .Mr.-Neary said., There,were plenty of precendents and;’ he/could not see" the Court’s refusing-// -