Mr Knox predicts wage rise

Press, 24 September 1983, Page 1

Mr Knox predicts wage rise

PA Wellington The president of the Federation of Labour, Mr W. J. Knox, believes the Government will grant a 4 to 5 per cent general wage order to end the wage freeze early next year. Writing in the September issue of the “F.O.L. Bulletin,” Mr Knox said that soon after the wage freeze is lifted at the end of February next year the Government will grant a general wage increase of about 4 to 5 per cent. Mr Knox said that the Prime Minister, Mr Muldoon, will then say: “There you are. What’s all the fuss about? We’ve given you a

wane Mr Knox said: “We do not want the Government to set our wages and we will not accept State control of the trade union movement

“We want the right of people to organise, to negotiate freely, to bargain with their employers, to have access to the Arbitration Court for a general wage order or cost of living rise.” Commenting on Mr Knox’s prediction, the executive director of the Employers’ Federation, Mr J. W. Rowe, conceded that the Government could grant a general wage increase as a means of emerging from the freeze. He described Mr Knox’s prediction of 4 to 5 per cent as “a bit high.”