Masonry Magazine July 1966 Page. 27
There just is not time to pass hikes, even if Johnson asks.
THE MOST IMPORTANT LABOR NEGOTIAL TIONS OF 1966
will be getting under way in earnest this summer. Bargaining will involve giant General Electric. Quite apart from any wage-setting significance is the future of a new tactic in bargaining which labor leaders are trying to introduce as a major weapon. It is one that could have substantial significance for many industries.
The new wrinkle is coalition bargaining. In this case, it is the united front made by eight unions that represent most of GE's employees. In the past, GE has been a tough nut. Unions could not agree on objectives, or to support each other. No one knows if they can stay together now.
THE WAGE GAINS RECEIVED BY THE AUTO VORKERS
are already whetting the appetites of union leaders in other lines. They come to about 5½%. Some of the gains comes from the regular Annual Improvement Factor the payoff for productivity. But even more about 3% of the total is the product of the contract's escalator clause which adjusts for rises in the cost of living.
Similar increases have already been won in aerospace... foodpacking... and farm machinery. In the first half of 1967, 5% or 52% could well become the pattern, despite the President's guideposts. More major contracts come up for renewal in this period than in all of the current year.
A SEARCH FOR ALTERNATIVES TO THE VAGE-PRICE GUIDEPOSTS
is now being pushed vigorously by the special Labor-Management Advisory Committee the President appointed last spring. Officials recognize that the old limits are dead. Both unions and management are ignoring them. Yet the threat of inflation still looms large and Washington still sees a need for restraint.
The Committee is debating proposals such as these:
-Guideposts set by labor and industry with no federal role.
-A flexible policy on increases with unions and management forced to justify large boosts to a special review panel.
-Tighter controls on exports of good in scarce supply and even greater sales of scarce commodities from stockpiles.
There are more, but no easy solution is likely to emerge.
FARM-COMMODITY SHORTAGES - NOT GLUTS
ARE NOW CONCERNING agricultural experts. It is not just because scarcities are contributing inflation. Rather, there are fears that production will soon be unable to meet domestic plus export demand.