WAGES IN BRITAIN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 376, 9 June 1928, Page 27

WAGES IN BRITAIN

REDUCTION IN J 927 There was a slight reduction, during 1927, in the average level of rates of wages in Great Britain. In the industries and services for which statistics are available, the changes reported during the year resulted in an aggregate reduction of £389,000 in the weekly full-time wages of over 1,850,000 workpeople, and in a net increase of £30,400 in those of 280,000 workpeople. In 1926 there were net increases amounting to £133,000 in the weekly full-time wages of 420,000 workpeople, and net decreases amounting to £83,700 in those of 740,000 workpeople. The greater part of the net reduction in wages in 1927 occurred in the coalmining industry (which accounted for over 70 per cent, of the total) and in the Iron and steel, textile, clothing and transport industry groups. Of the total net reduction, over half the reductions took effect under sliding scales based on selling prices of manufactured iron, steel, etc., or on the proceeds of the industry (coalmining), and about a quarter took effect under sliding scales based on the cost of living. The latter amount includes nearly £32,000 under scales arranged by Joint Industrial Councils or other joint standing bodies of employers and workpeople, and £12,000 under scales embodied in Trade Board Orders. Other reductions were the result of arbitration or conciliation or direct negotiation between employers and workpeople. Reductions preceded by disputes causing stoppage of work accounted for only about £I,BOO.