Writing in the November issue of the Journal of Boilermakers' Union, Ted Hill, the union's president, had this to say about the discussions between the TUC and Cabinet Ministers on an incomes policy:
“,.4s indicated in the press, the TUC General Council have had a meeting with Cabinet Ministers to discuss the question of the National Economic Development Council, elso the question of prices and an incomes policy. These matters will be carefully considered by the TUC in the very near future. Whilst the economic situation is very grave, the Government have no intention of asking for a wage freeze, but they do desire some cooperation in developing anincomes policy in keeping with our economy, together with price control, Many times over recent years I have written articles and made speeches in favour of price control instead of fighting wage claims to keep pace with the increasing cost of living, Over the past 15 years wages been doubled, but the standard of living in this period has only improved between 15% and 20%,
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Wage increases that have an inflationary tendency mitigate against the low income groups, the old age pensioners, the sick and the unemployed, and the first thing we ought to press for is price control, together with wage increases that will give us a real increase in our standard of living. If the Labour Government will change the trend of taxation by reducing indirect taxation and increasing direct taxation, especially Profits Tax and Surtax, also a policy of price control, then there is no reason why we should not consider wage increases on a basis that will avoid inflationary tendencies. We will have to make up our minds in the near future whether we desire inflationary wage increase or whether we desire wage increases that will mean real increases in our living standards, Let us hope that wise counsel will prevail in the future and that our movement will pursue a polig that will give best results to the huge majority of people we represent,"