Union leaders are warning that workers' demands for higher wages
will increase, as the rising cost of living bites harder.
One union leader has warned of rising industrial action as workers
become more determined in their bargaining.
The president of the Council of Trade Unions, Helen Kelly, says
industrial action is a real possibility if increases in the cost of
living are not taken into account in wage negotiations.
And the CTU is warning employers the downturn in the economy is not an excuse to pay workers poorly.
It says over the past few years businesses have had a good deal with profits increasing 44%, while wages have gone up 10%.
CTU secretary Carol Beaumont is challenging employers to get together at an industry level to talk about the sort of wage levels that are needed.
