Day 173 - 16 Oct 95 - Page 17

     
     1   MS. STEEL:  I am sure it can be dealt with  quicker than any
     2        objection.
     3
     4   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  So far as the actual wage rates are
     5        concerned, probably 1979 is the most important date, so why
     6        do you not start with 1979?  If you have a specific reason
     7        for wanting to know about 1985 or today, some reason which
     8        really applies to the issues which we must grapple with,
     9        then ask about that, too.  But start with what is probably
    10        the most important.
    11
    12   MS. STEEL:  I am not actually asking what the rates are.  I am
    13        just asking about the times of change.
    14
    15        (To the witness)  OK.  If you start with 1979, was there an
    16        annual increase?
    17        A.  Yes, there would have been.
    18
    19   Q.   When would that have been?
    20        A.  I do not recollect what month, but there would have
         been an increase in rates policy 90 days after a person
    22        commenced employment.
    23
    24   Q.   Right.  I am after something different.  I understand what
    25        you say about 90 days after the probationary period and
    26        then every six month after that.  But in terms of wage
    27        increases across the board, all crew members, no matter how
    28        they are doing or whatever, was there a set time of year
    29        when everybody's wages would be increased?
    30        A.  No, not necessarily.  It would depend on the general
    31        market conditions and the economy of the country which --
    32        inflation at that particular time was very, very high.  So
    33        we would always look at the rates of pay as necessary.
    34
    35   Q.   Has that changed since then?
    36        A.  Has what changed, the policy?
    37
    38   Q.   Yes.
    39        A.  No.
    40
    Q.   It has not?  That remains the same:  there is no set annual
    42        time when all the wages go up?
    43        A.  Well, there is a set time in this sense: first of all,
    44        everybody get an increase every year; second of all, we
    45        always look at the rates of pay once a year.  It is
    46        generally on an annual basis.  It could be anywhere between
    47        12 and 14 month.
    48
    49   Q.   Does that usually coincide with the wage rates being
    50        increased by the JLC? 
    51        A.  No, not necessarily. 
    52 
    53   Q.   Not necessarily?
    54        A.  It can be, but not necessarily.
    55
    56   Q.   You said inflation was high in 1979.  What was the
    57        inflation rate?
    58        A.  Well, I cannot recall exactly, but certainly in the
    59        late 70s and 80s in Ireland it was running as high as
    60        10 and 12 per cent.