VIEWS OF T,U.C.

Chronicle (Levin), 6 February 1948, Page 5

VIEWS OF T,U.C.

Receive'd Friday, 10.10 a.m. LONDON, Feb. 5. The Trade Union Congress' eccnomic committee has announeed general agreement with the Governemnt's aim of avoiding infiafcion, but in view of the eftect of the White Paper on the union's wage negotiations^ it has decided to3 -ask Mr. Attlee to reeeive a deputation for an immediate clarification of the Serious difficulties arising fiom the implications of the Government's statement. "What the Governnieut is asking is a voluntarv self-denying oialinance on the part of trade unions," says the Daily Telegraph. "The Government's statement is not an instruction but an appeal and wisdqm and public spint alike dictate a prompt assenting respouse. " , The Daily Telegraph's political covrespondent says Mr. Attlee made the Government 's .views known himself to eiapliasise Ministerial unity. There was no desirc to reduce wages, the correspondent adds. Any such policy, hcpoints ont, would mean a split in the Uabinet and would alienate the T.U.C. on whose support it so largelv depends, but Ministers who, like ,Sir Stafford Gripps,' are alive to' the realities of the economic situation, insist that wages aitd 'incomes' must be relathd' to ftVodW-' tion and exports. Increases would. not be resisted where they were likely to attract worke'rs to undermanned industries. The Times, in a leader, deseribes the Government's statement as a challenge to a large section of the Government's own supporters. "Its background," The Times says, " is a growing pressure for higher wages whieh, in the last few months, has had considerable success. In November alone general wages rose ly 3 per cent. and trade union leaders have not been able or willing to stem the tide. ' '