THE PAY RISES THAT AREN'T

One of the illusions beloved by supporters of capitalism is that while the system isn't perfect at least there is a steady improvement of conditions. The Income Data Services has come up with figures that prove that is complete nonsense. "Of Britain's 29.million-strong workforce around 80 per cent, or 23.1million, work in the private sector. The vast majority of these received a pay rise which failed to keep pace with inflation, said the report by pay experts Incomes Data Services (IDS). It said the average pay rise between January and March was 3 per cent, compared with inflation at 3.5 per cent. And 8 per cent of workers, typically those working in the manufacturing, construction or not-for-profit sectors, saw pay frozen." (Daily Mail, 8 May) RD