Further Wage Award Would Raise Prices
Page 36
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
are most concerned at the
VY threat of yet another engineers' wages award which, if it takes place, will force us to increase prices and play into the hands of our very serious competitors—principally Germany and Sweden." This warning was given by Mr. Sydney S. Guy, chairman and managing director of Guy Motors, Ltd., in his annual report.
" These increases," he continued, "also have their effect in another direction, as more and more countries by various means are encouraging local manufacture. . . . We must avoid the danger of pricing ourselves out of the markets, and forcing the manufacture of more and more units abroad."
At the moment the country was enjoying unprecedented prosperity and there was a great shortage of manpower, but this did not mean that employees could continue asking for wage increases without more effort.
Last December there was a one-day strike of engineers. The men lost a day's wages but within two or three weeks, by working harder and producing more, they regained the money they had lost—and raised output by 7 per cent.
If workers could continue the 7-per-cent. increase in production, higher wages could be paid and vehicle prices reduced. An incentive-bonus scheme had been introduced, said Mr. Guy, which enabled skilled operators to earn £15 a week.
The biggest single factor which would contribute to an increase in output, he believed, was a reduction in taxation. It was also time that the purchase tax on commercial vehicles was removed. Road-vehicles were the only form of goods transport which was taxed.
NEW GOODYEAR TYRES
TWO new Goodyear tyres have been produced, the Traction Hi-Miler and the Hi-Miler Extra Tread. The first has a strong carcass with prestretched Rayotwist cords and is made with improved compounds for cooler running. The Hi-Miler Extra Tread, Type S, is a premium-priced tyre with a deep. thick tread.
NEW VAUXHALL RECORD
FOR the first time in their history, Vauxhall Motors, Ltd. have produced more than 50,000 Bedford vehicles in a year. Half the vehicles have been exported. Production has averaged 235 each working day this year.
TWO TOWNS UPGRADED
A S from December 1, Worksop and
Northallerton will be placed in Grade 1 for the purposes of road haulage wages. This change has been made in the Road Haulage Wages coulkil Wages Regulations (Amendment) (No. 2) Order, 1954.