Now for a social contract?
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BRITISH Institute of Management chairman, Leslie Tolley, speaking at Cranfield School of Management last Friday, presented a challenge to trade unions to "enter into a contract with employers, and Government as employers."
He asked that: "for three years there would be no strikes over pay, conditions and benefits; that pay increases during that period would be in line with increased productivity; and that they would co-operate fully in new technology and anything else designed to improve productivity and competitiveness."
Predicting that such action would allow Britain to climb out of its present economic difficulties at a speed which would surprise the whole country, he urged that emphasis should be placed on manufacturing rather than service industries.
"We see the balance of employment moving in favour of service activities," he said. "This is inevitable in a modern society but we must remember that most of those service activities depend upon manufacturing industry and the wealth created by it."
Mr Tolley laid the blame for the country's difficulties upon Government, trade unions and employee attitudes_ He warned that while careers in service industries may be less frustrating and less aggravating, only the survival of manufacturing industry will allow such careers to exist.