‘Wide gulf’ over State pay rates

Press, 21 November 1981, Page 2

‘Wide gulf’ over State pay rates

PA Wellington The chairman of the Combined State Unions, Mr D. H. Thorp, said yesterday that there-was still a “wide gulf between the Government and the C.S.U. -over the public servants’ annual general pay adjustment. Mr Thorp, speaking to reporters after a meeting with the Minister of State Services (Mr Thomson) and the Minister of Labour (Mr Bolger), said a further meeting would be held on Monday at 8.30 a.m. He said the sticking point over the pay rise was difference over what basic clerical staff were earning in the private and public sectors. “There is a wide gulf between us in negotiations. The Minister (Mr Thomson) was not prepared to get involved in the details of negotiations,” Mr Thorp said. “If we move too far from our' present position then there is going to be significant lag in terms of State clerks’ pay,” he said.

The C.S.U. has already made what it regarded as a very significant concession adjusting the difference between the-State and private sector pay. rates. The total wage settlement would not be resolved until the position on. the basic clerks had been sorted out.. That was the Government’s stand on the question, Mr Thorp said. Mr Thomson said he did not know whether the wrangle would be over before the General Election. “I had to say to Mr Thorp that there has been no suggestion that State servants will have their pay frozen. They always have the annual increment which runs to about $7OO to $BOO a year and that has-been preserved.’” Christchurch public servants will attend a meeting at the Christchurch Town Hall on Tuesday to hear a report by the vice-president. of the Public Service Association on the state of negotiations on the annual general wage adjustment.

In the latest P.S.A. “Journal” the association’s secretary, Mr W. B. Tucker, says he is certain the State Services Commission interpretation of the Pay Research Council’s figures will not be confirmed by. the technical advisory committee. ’ "But at the moment all is not well; The proposals have not been withdrawn, they have only been set aside. Government may still be prepared to withhold the annual general adjustment. Members should not be fooled into a false feeling of security. “What is important is to get the matter settled before the election. If that is not done I would be fearful ,of the consequences,” said Mr Tucker. '. ■ “I have been active in the P.S.A. for. 35 years and I cannot recall any pay proposal as drastic as this one. If it goes ahead it would have to be compared with the wage cuts of the 19205,” he said.