2nd Major Union Gives Anti-Inflation Plan a Qualified Boost
The United Auto Workers joined Û¢the Teamsters yesterday in giving qualified support to President CarterÛªs anti-inflation program ns administration officials voiced satisfaction with initial business and labor cooperation.</br></br>But a third major union, the International Association of Machinists, indicated it will follow through on earlier threats to disregard the 7 percent wage guideline in negotiating new contracts.</br></br>The 950,000-member IAM will negotiate contracts for airline ground crews later this year. The Teamsters, with 2 million members, and the UAW, with 1 Vz million members, will dominate next yearÛªs heavy round of contract bargaining.</br></br>Labor Secretary Ray Marshall, a principal architect of the wage-price guidelines program that Carter announced Tuesday night, told reporters he expected it would take .six to eight months before the inflation rate begins to taper off in response to the program.</br></br>The president's program calls for a 7 percent limit on wage increases and a less specific price standard to bring the overall inflation rate down from 8 percent to less than 6% percent nex$ year. Although it includes some government sanctions, the program is voluntary and thus heavily dependent on union and corporate cooperation.