Word: wages
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...contrast to the unemployment picture, the inflation forecast remains exceptionally bright. Most European countries can expect price rises of no more than 3% to 5% in 1987. But that prediction assumes the continued willingness of unions to accept moderate wage increases. In France, the conservative government of Premier Jacques Chirac has recently had to face strikes by public sector employees that interrupted train and electric service. Though the strikers eventually accepted Chirac's offer of 2% to 3% pay hikes and went back to work, the confrontation was a sharp reminder of latent tensions on the labor front...
...Britain. The pound's fall, which was linked to the decrease in value of Britain's oil reserves, has stimulated the country's exports by making its products less expensive overseas. At the same time, British manufacturers have been able to hold down their prices because of modest wage settlements. Inflation last year was only 3.75%, a far cry from the more than 20% reached...
...stable mark, however, could have some negative side effects. During 1986 the climb in the mark's value reduced the cost of imported oil and other industrial materials and helped companies afford a 4.5% wage hike for employees. But similar wage demands this year could become a heavy burden if the mark stops rising. Giersch voiced fears that pay increases could cut profits, dampen investment and lift the inflation rate to 3%. He suggested that Bonn should strike a deal with the labor unions, in which the government would cut taxes by 5% in exchange for wage restraint...
...House Speaker Jim Wright. Top Republicans stayed away, fearful that the conference would turn into a round of Reagan bashing. Actually, though, most speakers sounded less partisan than perplexed. They stressed the tangled roots of the trade deficit, including the movements of currency markets, Third World debt, varying wage policies in other trading nations, even American business strategies and attitudes toward work: all matters beyond the ready reach...
...colleagues almost certainly would have chosen Indiana's Richard Lugar, 54, a moderate in foreign affairs. Lugar ably chaired the committee when Republicans controlled the Senate (Helms then headed the Agriculture Committee). But this session Helms sought to reclaim the ranking spot on Foreign Relations, from which he could wage a crusade against any signs of State Department moderation...