Employers to meet over wage deal

Press, 10 November 1986, Page 1

Employers to meet over wage deal

PA Wellington Employer assessors involved in the three key awards are expected to play a crucial role in a decision due to be made today by the Employers’ Federation on a Federation of Labour-backed initiative to settle the wage-round impasse. The national council of Employers’ Federation, which is its formal policy-

making body, will consider the F.O.L.’s request for common talks on the metal trades, northern stores, and clerical workers’ awards aimed at agreement on a centralised wages path.

The proposal involves the three awards reaching settlements of a 7.5 per cent increase or two-stage settlement of 6 per cent

now and 3 per cent next year. It is believed that a meeting this morning of employer assessors involved in the traditional trend-setting awards will probably influence the central employers’ body in its decision later today. Their meeting will be followed by one of the employers’ advisory group, which has been

responsible for formulating wage round policy. The national council is expected to hear the views of both meetings before making its own deliberations. Sources indicated that many employer representatives would oppose the Employers’ Federation agreeing to discuss the F.O.L. figures. One possible outcome is

a decision to appoint a small group to meet the F.O.L. tomorrow to see whether agreement can be reached on a lower central settlement. Employer sources said last evening that the 6 per cent settlement reached in the electrical contractors’ award at the weekend ruled out any possibility of the main employers’ group accepting negotia-

tions based on a higher figure. Both the northern stores and engineers’ unioas last week indicated their willingness to lift industrial action if the employers would negotiate by Thursday. The undertaking was dropped, however, when it became apparent that the employers would not meet the deadline.