Electricians will go for 24 p.c. rise

Press, 24 July 1985, Page 1

Electricians will go for 24 p.c. rise

By

Patricia Herbert

in Wellington

Pay claims of 24 per cent will be filed by Mr Tony Neary, the union advocate for the trend-setting electrical contractors’ award. Mr Neary confirmed the figure yesterday and said he also intended to go for an inflation-proofing clause. This would bind employers into automatically adjusting wages in line with movements in the consumers’ price index. The negotiations are set down for September 23. Mr Neary said this was the first date he could get but it means that this year he will not be among the first up.

Traditionally the other key settlements are the drivers’ award, set down for September 16 to 18, and the metal trades award, set down for September 16 to 19. The first is negotiated by Mr Rob Campbell, secretary of the Distribution Workers’ Federation, and by Mr Paul Diver for the employers. The second is negotiated by Mr Rex Jones, secretary of the Engineers’ Union, and by Mr Peter Carroll, of the Auckland Employers’ Association. Neither Mr Campbell nor Mr Jones has yet decided on their pay claims but Mr Jones has said that his will be at least 18 per cent.