Awards settled up to 16.7%

Press, 14 October 1985, Page 40

Awards settled up to 16.7%

PA Auckland Wage increases up to 16.7 per cent were agreed in two awards settled in Auckland on Friday. The increases, provided in the Northern Laundry Workers’ Award and the Northern Drycleaners’ Award, will apply to about 1000 workers. The union advocate in both, Mr Harold Callagher, said wage rates in the documents were restructured, giving increases ranging from 15.7 per cent to 16.7 per cent.

“The actual movement in both was 14 per cent, but with the restructuring nobody will get less than a 15.7 per cent rise.”

The employers’ advocate in the talks, Mr Bill Ross, could not be reached for comment.

In Wellington, the Acting Minister of Finance, Mr Prebble, said he was very concerned at the 14 per cent wage settlement for laundry workers. The settlement was higher than the economy

could sustain without creating inflationary pressures. “Three awards have been settled,” he said. “Another two major awards, insurance workers and retail shop assistants, came close to settlement this week, according to our information.” It was pleasing to see awards were now being settled. But 13 to 14 per ‘ cent was higher than the economy could sustain across the board, Mr Prebble said. The Government had a duty to point out to both employers and unions that the September quarter inflation rate was down to 2.8 per cent. “Assuming sensible wage settlements, we can expect good rates of inflation right through the next 12 months,” he said. Awards should reflect the reduction in inflationary expectations. “If they don’t, we are simply trading illusory pay rises for lost jobs in the year ahead,” Mr Prebble said.