D.a.t.a. on the Wage Freeze

from an Industrial Correspondent, Arising from the Government's major reappraisal of its economic policies and its intention to implement a six months freeze on wages followed by a further six months of severe restraint, the Executive Committee issued the following press statement:- D.A.T.A. does not accept the Government's decision to have a salaries standstill for six months followed by a further six months when there is to be severe restraint on salaries. D.A.T.A. does not believe that such a policy is necessary because it does not accept the reasons given by the Government for the economic difficulties. The Grounds for D.A.T.A.'s opposition to the Prices and Incomes Policy are now well known and do not need re-stating. The threat to enact the provisions of the Prices and Incomes Bill to enforce a wage freeze will ereate new problems and undermine the relationships in industry which are necessary to advance our future economic strength. This strength must be based upon expanding production #’r constructive purposes. D.A.T.A. Stronsly criticises the failure of the Government effectively to reduce BRitain's massive military expenditure and the continued intention of the Government to purchase American military aircraft. D.A.T.A. intends to press as visourously as possible to obtain for all its members proper salary levels and working conditions. A special meeting of the Executive Committee has now given further consideration to the Association's position and to the action to be taken to safeguard the wages and working conditions of members. In accordance with the policy decisions taken by the Representative Council Conference of opposition in the present inequitable conditions to the Government's Prices and Incomes Policy and to any form ofwage freeze, and the decision to persue national claims with both the Engineering and Shipbuilding Employers for substantial increases in salaries, the Executive Committte has decided to advise membersthat it reaffirms its belief that a solution to Britain's economic problems will be achievedonly through planning for general benefitin a society in which the people have adequate control over the means of production, distribution and exchange. Under such conditions D.A.T.A. participation in an incomes policy would be a logicsl requirement. In present circumstances however, a wage freeze is no answer to Britain's economic problems. The distribution of wealth os srossly maladjusted and has not significantly altered since 1938. Now, as then, the top 10% of the population own around 80% of the wealth in Great Britain. Workers and their families -all 45m of them- compete between themselves for ohly 20% of the national wealth while no serious challenge is posed to the 80% still in the hands of a small minority. Nowhere in the Government's pay freeze or future policies for wage restraint is there any challenge to correct the maldistribution of wealth. The inequalities of wealth should be reduced and not made worse by measures to stop increases in pay and improvements in living standards. Attempts are being made to make the Government's proposals acceptable to the trade unions by including a restriction on increases in dividends but dividends can be frozen now only to be paid out in full once the six months are over, whereas wages once lost are gone for evere