It also knows, as does the leadership of the trade union movement, that workers will demand much higher increases at local and national agreements than at any time since the early 1980s. The reason is that economic growth has been consistently underestimated in the past and consequently pay rises have been much lower than conditions allowed for. Now both the NESC and ESRI accept that some of the benefits must go to the workers. The other group that both bodies believe should be rewarded are those at the margins. While the single biggest group are the unemployed, lone parents, their children and the low paid are amongst those most at risk in the short term.
Social inclusion can only happen in the context of a national agreement.
The response could tell us a lot about how well social partnership is understood and valued.