Workers agree to limit wage rises

Press, 20 April 1981, Page 10

Workers agree to limit wage rises

PA -. ; - Aufckland Salaried staff of the Waiteraata City Council have agreed in principle to peg wage increases to 5 per cent for the year. The secretary of the Local Authorities Officers’ Union. Mr K. M. Tuxford, said that final negotiations for the new award had not yet beer completed, but the accord or the wages provision had cleared a big hurdle. “It will mean that the council, for the first time will be able to forecast it: wages bill with some accuracy,- ’ said the chairman oi the council’s industrial committee, Mr R. W. Stanic.

In the past, every flow-on from a wage order grantee by the Arbitration Court or from the linkage with the State servants’ increases had played havoc with the city .treasurer’s estimates of wages payable, Mr Stanic said, but the agreement in principle on the 5 per cent increase only for the year April 1, 1981, to March 31/ 1982, meant that whatever

additional increases other; employees were granted, the. Waitejnata salaried staff would gain none of those benefits during the 12 months. The award would be renegotiated in April. 1982. “At April 1, 1982, the staff will be given the difference between the 5 per cent increase already paid during the last 12 months and such percentage increases granted generally during that time,” ;said Mr Stanic. “Not only will the treasurer’s estimates be more valid, but it will certainly help a great deal in the .council's aim to limit rates increases to 9.5 per cent. “It also means that the word, ’redundancy/ will be one we will not know the meaning of,” he said, “not that there had been any thought of making any staff redundant.”

■ Air Tuxford had said last month that the biggest worry for his members had been job security. His members had been willing to help the council “in its hour of need.”

He said that the agreement in principle to the 5 per cent increase had paved the way for the new award to be forwarded to the Arbitration Court for ratification, and that would be done when the award negotiations had been completed.