asked the Minister for Labour the terms of settlement of the recent cement strike, giving particulars of advances in prices for the employers' product and in salary and wages for the employees.
31.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cement Strike.
30.
asked the Minister for Labour how far the recent cement strike settlement, in which he participated, adheres to the 7 per cent guide line laid down by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Industry and Commerce.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 31 together.
The basic weekly pay of adult male general workers in Cement Ltd. was £14 4s.
The company had offered to increase the basic pay by £2 a week from the 1st January, 1970 with a further 10s a week from the 1st September, 1970; a total of £2 10s. This offer, which was higher than the percentage figure mentioned in the question, was rejected by the workers.
The subsequent Labour Court recommendation proposed an increase of £2 10s a week from the 1st January, 1970 with a further £1 a week from the 1st June, 1970. This was rejected by the workers.
The final settlement provided for the payment of the Labour Court's recommended figure of £3 10s, the new rates to operate for time worked from the 1st January, 1970. The settlement also provided for an existing service pay scheme to be replaced by an incremental wage scale, progressing from the new basic rate of £17 14s up to £21 12s 6d over 15 years. The price of cement has recently been increased by 15s per ton plus 1s 8d (average) on freight costs.