Wages - Strikes

Riots in France ments have been dissalisted with this becsoge they fee] that, in the absence of AWOAS, they could force public sector workers to take much lower wage inc: reases. Private employers have alge been annoyed GeEcaues WUnnecessarily high wage incresses in the public sector have pushed Rate sector workers wage increases. Finally, omployers alo recognised that there were man bran: ches of indusiny, trade and commerce; Where the rece asion had undermined the confidence of workers so that very unfavourable wape deals could be easily pushed throtigh, For the above reasons, employers and the Coalition @itched the BWA framework and opted for decentralised wipe bargaining ic. picking the workers off factory by factory. The employers and iticians know that industrial relations’ could plitnge the economy inte chaos asa result of this approach, But they also know that workers have no political alternarive anid go they tope that trades union: Bie will bow mackly to the inevituble - wage cuta!! lt is with this kindof confidened that the FLIE and the Coalition emteres offering a6 mont ; 5 pur ‘ pause and a 39 increase thereafter.

The trades wnion leadership has failed to gall for any fightback, Unlike previous wage rounds the MCTL has refrained froan even recommending a specific percentfige increase. John Carroll of dhe TGWU came nebrest to making @ recommendation when he-gaid that a JOS increase would: mean arechourint wages af 7 alter teation and inflation ure taken Into nec The implication is that workers dhiculd demand an absolute muna inerease of 17%, None of the wage sctilements published in April by the LCT come near 17th. Most of the 3] agreements have been around WI, This discrepancy is only to be ex: pected given the absence of airy clear lead from the trade union top brass. However, the settlements to date indicate an underlying militancy. Poy pauses hurve been rejected in the majority of cases aml the money terms, though inadequate, have been far im exces of what employers would like.

Most important af all; the hulk of wage a2zrecments to date have been in anall workplaces of ies than u hundred workers. Major factories anc industrial branches have vet to wade in. The first shana of a move ment amvinip these workers are now bepinnisie te emerac. ‘The F000 Pat workers have lodged a 22% c aim Ae FE aie: en matice oot indiastrial atop. Meanwhile New [reland uni Standard Life insurance workers have already taken Indiistrial action. More Tecently workers in Carrolls (Dundalk) and the

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