OWN WAGE CLAIMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26693, 12 February 1948, Page 7

OWN WAGE CLAIMS

BRITISH UNIONS' INTENTION

REACTION AGAINST STATE’S PROPOSALS N.Z.F.A. Special Correspondent Rec. 9 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 11. Considerable importance is attached both to the meeting to-day between Mr Attlee, Sir Stafford Cripps, Mr Ernest Bevin, Mr G. A. Isaacs, Minister of Labour, and the T.U.C. deputation to discuss the Government's proposals about wages, which were outlined in last week's White Paper and which will be discussed in tomorrow’s House of Commons debate on personal incomes, costs and prices. The initial reaction of trade union opinion has hardened against accepting the Government proposals and several big trade unions have declared their intention of proceeding with their own wage claims. One suggestion is that as a result of their talk with Cabinet Ministers, the General Council of the T.U.C. may recommend to their constituent unions a truce to all claims for higher wages on an assurance from the Government that the problem of profits, dividends and rising food prices will be dealt with in the April Budget. Sir Stafford Cripps, however, cannot indicate what his Budget policy may be and the council may have to accept his assurance that the counter claims of trade unions will be considered from the standpoint of higher taxation or some means of limitation of profits and dividends. The Labour correspondent of the Manchester Guardian says the whole subject of wages policy has now become primarily a question of confidence. If the Government had been prepared to stand up to the leaders of the big general workers’ unions a year ago, it would have been possible to introduce a wages policy with far less fuss. Wage rates then were relatively stable and the upward movement of the second half of last year had not begun. The price of weak leadership last year, he continues, now has to be paid and Cabinet, which wasted months in persuading the T.U.C. to accept direction as an “alternative to some control, must now persuade trade unions to accept its wages policy Labour members of the House of Commons have signed a motion asking the Government to withdraw its request for no further wage increases. Mr L. J. Solley, Labour member for Thurrock, told a meeting of the Clerical Workers’ Union: “ Serious reaction is rising to the wages policy, and it will get more serious.’