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PRESS STATEMENT NO. 375
19 November 1974
The Prime Minister, Mr. Whitlam, today sent the
following telegram to Mr. Barry Egan, Secretary, Australian
Workers' Union: " I send my congratulations on the decision
by the shop assistant and other members of your
trade union to respond positively to the Government's
proposals relating to pay claims and the scheme for
introducing cost of living adjustments. To your
trade union, and to all union members, I confirm
that the Government regards the recently announced
cut in taxes as a step which instead of a pay
increase will compensate employees for price
increases in the current October-November-December
period. For the following period the Government
will support before the Arbitration-. Commission
an automatic system of cost of living adjustments
beginning with the consumer price index figure for
March 1975. The Government's policy means that
wage and salary earners will have their real
purchasing power protected. In addition, pay
claims based on productivity, technological change
and other special factors can also be advanced by
unions in arbitration. I suggest that this approach
is in the interests of all employees and of the whole
community. Gough Whitlam".
CANBERRA, A. C. T.
PRESS STATEMENT NO. 375
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