asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, in view of the fact that the trade unions have honoured the terms of the agreement made between the Provisional United Trade Union Organisation and the Federated Union of Employers, he will now urge employers to ensure that increases in wages are absorbed otherwise than by increases in prices.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Absorption of Wage Increases.
I would refer the Deputy to the exact terms of the agreement between the Provisional United Trade Union Organisation and the Federated Union of Employers on this point. Both organisations expressed their anxiety that increases in wages should not be followed by increases in prices, and recognised that in so far as they were able to exercise any influence on restraining price rises, employers and trade unions have a duty to do so. Both organisations accepted the responsibility for ensuring that every practical effort should be made to offset increases in costs where they may occur, by improved efforts and efficiency and greater productivity.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary appreciate that what I am asking is that the Minister for Industry and Commerce would urge the employers to honour their side of the undertaking? That is simply what I am asking.
There is not any evidence that the employers have not accepted and lived up to the obligations which they entered into by the agreement.