Roger Newsham (July 17) justifies the public workers’ industrial action by correctly stating that lower-paid ancillary workers contribute as much to society as many of the higher paid, yet suffer far more from the increased costs of living.
But surely much of the blame should rest with the trades union who invariably negotiate percentage increases.
As the claims are based on the cost of living, the increased costs of food and fuel, etc, apply equally to the manager and the labourer, thus any just claim should be for an agreed sum per capita.
Percentage increases simply increase the disparity in the take-home pay of employees and offer the employers an argument, possibly with some justification, that industry cannot afford rises which while desperately needed by the lower paid, are increasingly less essential to those higher up the scale while offering no increase in productivity.
W H Diment
Church Road
Laindon
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