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May 18, 2005
Brown seeks to curb wage inflation
In a speech to the Amicus trade union, Chancellor Gordon Brown warned that large pay increases, for public sector workers would be unwise, in the light of risks from a European economic slowdown. He said that reform and wage discipline must be in-line with investment in public services.
The Chancellor also emphasised his opposition to the European Parliament's vote to discontinue opt-outs from the 48-hour working week, including in the UK, and promised to resist the decision. He said he would demand a fair deal for Britain by ensuring access for British firms to contracts and markets across all key sectors of the European economy.
Mr Brown said that progress was being made towards a European agreement on tackling poverty overseas, an issue on which Amicus has campaigned. The UK and Luxembourg will submit a joint paper on poverty at the next meeting of the European finance ministers.
Earlier in the week, Mr Brown spoke to the CBI about his plans to create a cross-party committee of MPs to help develop a national consensus on European economic reform. He said that slower than expected growth in Europe, particularly in Germany had coincided with a boom in the price of oil and other materials.
Mr Brown also highlighted his plans to reduce the number of regulatory inspections by one million and to nurture trust between responsible companies, educated consumers and the Government.
Posted by at May 18, 2005 09:15 PM
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