Wage round

Press, 7 October 1987, Page 20

Wage round

Sir, — Undoubtedly, inflation can be blamed for many of our economic ills. Most of us can thank our unions for good working conditions, best possible wages and a good standard of living. Too often, however, union secretaries have been non-work-ing, politically aligned professionals who have sought to justify their existence by pushing for ever-higher wages unrelated to higher production. They destroyed acceptable youth rates for beginners who take time to acquire experience and skill. They have also opposed modern mechanised working methods. In the meat industry they mindlessly kept trying to ruin farmers — their employers. No wonder works have closed. Their most foolish mistake is the annual wage round, which cannot help raising costs for everyone. Our Government could easily abolish the wage round by allowing workers to share in industries and by lowering taxes and living costs. Union secretaries, like other secretaries, should be short-term members of elected committees that make union decisions. — Yours, etc., TED MULCOCK. October 3, 1987.