wages policy: ALAN FISHER — big talk, little action. £4 a week. up to November greater, but with a maximum of But, as theirown figures show, inflation is likely to run at 15 per Public Employees lays out the facts in black and white: *The latest retail price index, the price changes, showed a rise of 15.1 per cent in the twelve month period between January 1976 and January 1977; with food prices up per cent. Chancellor Denis Healey, who at one time was forecasting a 9 percent leve of inflation by the end of 1976, now states that it will be running at 15 per cent by the end of the current year. necent nigures Tom the Department of Employment snow unar in une tweive nons of last year average earnings rose by 12.9 per cent against a 15 per cent rise in on many hours of shift work and overtime to make up a wage. It is this source of wage increase gained under Phases 1 and 2 which -ne proposes consolidate into basic rates.
NUTES General Secretarv Alan Fisher, has also embarked on a sales drive tor Phase 3. He is arguing that and weakly organised workers have nothing to gain return to free collective bargaining.
Both these bureaucrats know that it is the lower paid workers who have been hit less hard by the across the board increases of Phases 1 and 2. They realise that lower paid workers have nothing to gain from restoring differentals. in ine coming weeks ana months, these "leaders' of the labour movement in the TUC and the Government will be throwing argued for: living across the of Phases 1 and 2;
lower paid basic pay;
women.
Dasis determined board increases which can restore the wage cuts automatic compensation for inflation to protect wages in the future - 1 per cent rise in wages for every 1 per cent rise in prices, using a cost of living index calculated by the trade unions; * immediate implementation of a minimum wage of 250 a week *an end to low pay, equal pay for Unitv around these demands will give the Joneses and Fishers of the world what they deserve Only these policies can provide for to divisive anti-working class policies of the union leadership