§ Mr. Rossiasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what percentage increase was involved in the settlement of the dustmen's wage claim; and on what grounds it was approved by his Department.
§ Mr. Denis HowellThe increases for dustmen were part of a major pay and 359W productivity agreement for all manual workers in local government. This agreement involved a substantial reorganisation of the wages structure and added an average of 8–9 per cent. to earnings. Most dustmen received increases of about 10½ per cent., although in London the amount varied between 12½ per cent and 16 per cent.
Local authority manual workers are among the lowest paid workers in the country. A reorganisation of their wage structure was recommended by the N.B.P.I. over two years ago. Incomes policy provides for the exceptional treatment of such restructuring in the interests of efficiency.