What they al demanding
Socialist Organiser1983 1983-01-27Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 8 →
Read from the scan by machine and not corrected: expect misread words, and now and then a caption or a line from a neighbouring story. For anything you quote, read the scan.
Scan page 8
Link up with power ( Ink up with pauser o Bulk orders of this supplement be obtained from Socialist Organiser, 28 Middle Lane, London N8, at f1 for 20 or £4 for strike.
An active labour movement which supports and develops every militant struggle can drive the Tories from office - and win the general election, and fight to hold a Labour government to serious measures against the power and privilege of the capitalist class. What is the claim?
A 15% rise to bring water wc ırkers in line with higher-paid manual worke rs (the 'top quartile') in other industries and in electricity and gas.
Isn't 15% too ambitious?
No. Water workers' basic pay between £78.20 and £85.85, and gross earnings about £134 a week.
To keep up with inflation and have the same real value as their £61.80 average earnings in 1975, water workers would have to be getting about £160 a week now - or rather more, since tax would take a bigger cut from their pay. That means an increase of 20% or more.
Where money bosses don't consider 15% rises as over the top. British Oxygen boss Richard Giordano got a 21% increase last year - a rise of £2,000 a week!
Thirteen top British Oxygen directors shared an overall increase of 15%, and 15% was the figure, too, for Coal Board chairman Norman Siddall, who pocketed a handy £150 extra each week.
What's the offer?
Ine National Water Council originally wanted to offer 6%. The Tories refused to let them go over 4%.
In the last-minute 1 was bumped up to 5. mean a wage cut in real Haven't they been offer Yes -. but over 16 m 16 months is worth no 12. Besides, the longer fits in with a trend in elsewhere - means lal eaten away by inflatic union comeback.
Franamir Axnerte a rosspora to u rise again over the con factory-gate prices are a