Price rises and wage agreement
The Minister said the Government would not seek to renegotiate the voluntary national wage agreement, adding that 1978 price data did not show an uncontrolled rise.
asked the Minister for Economic Planning and Development if, in view of the continued uncontrolled rise in prices of consumer goods, it is intended to negotiate a new and improved permissible norm in the national wage agreement.
Comment on this
The national agreement is a voluntary agreement entered into by the employers and trade unions and it is not the intention of the Government to seek a renegotiation or amendment of the Agreement. The available evidence relating to movements in prices in 1978 does not support the Deputy's contention that there has been a continued uncontrolled rise in prices during the period.