TRADE UNIONS LIFT RESTRAINT ON WAGES; REPERCUSSIONS LIKELY

Wanganui Chronicle, 9 September 1950, Page 5

TRADE UNIONS LIFT RESTRAINT ON WAGES; REPERCUSSIONS LIKELY

LONDON, Sept 8 (Recd. 6 pm).— The British Cabinet will have a new problem to consider at its fourth meeting of the week today—possible serious repercussions of the “rebel” Trades Union Congress vote yesterday which shattered the nation’s wage restraint policy. Rejecting a direct appeal by the Prime Minister, Mr. Attlee, and the advice of their official leaders, delegates of 8,000,000 organised wage earners at a Congress conference at Brighton voted yesterday to throw restraint to the winds in demands for pay rises.

The British press today is divided in opinion as to the T.U.C. vote. Two sharply defined views are discernible: (1) That, there would not be immediate all-round wage increase demands, and (2) that constructive Government action is needed in dealing with the new situation. “The Times” said the effect of the vote was that employers would no longer be able to quote the T.U.C/s policy when opposing wage claims. “The Times” said: “Trade unions will still he reluctant to embarrass the Government and there will not be a sudden rush of claims yet, but if the Government and union leaders would not soon act together constructively, the slowly gathering pressure of rival demands may eventually sweep away comnulsory arbitration and put the whole economic prospect i n peril.”