Alternatively, negotiators may form a view about likely inflation over the period of the wage contract based on its recent past behaviour.

Second, nominal wage cuts would be difficult to put into effect because of laws and wage contracts.

A lifelong friend of organized labor, he testified for unions in various hearings, particularly on wage contracts.

The minimum number of school days was once 170, but after a new teachers' wage contract, it increased to 180.

Current wage contracts do not expire until Jan. 1, 1997, and they also happen to govern the issue of working hours.

Now we have cost-of-living agreements covering only 36 percent of wage contracts.

In the early 1980's 68 percent of wage contracts were covered.

So are countless wage contracts, as are the federal income-tax brackets.

John Ryan championed the idea and stressed the need to "moralize" the wage contract to protect the home.

The minimum number of school days is 170, but after a new teachers' wage contract, this will increase to 180.