Government Resources Are Finite, So Don't Bankrupt The Government With Your Demands

July 27, 1965: LABOUR PAINS

Mr Lee warned leaders of the 15,000-strong Public Daily-rated Employees Unions Federation and National Trades Union Congress that the workforce would have to show discipline and not make excessive wage claims or he "would have to enforce discipline for them".

The unions had been demanding a revision of the wage structure and back payment of wage increases under a wage agreement of 1961. But Mr Lee said he could not agree to granting the back pay as that "would bankrupt the Government".

The run-in with the unions culminated in the passing of new labour legislation in 1968 which restricted the unions' right to strike.

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