PHILIPSBURG--Instead of increasing the price of bread, the weight should be decreased and the price maintained.
This was the suggestion of Windward Islands Chamber of Labour Unions (WICLU) President Theophilus Thompson, who says an issue such as the price increase of a staple commodity such as bread should have been discussed with the social partners.
Thompson told reporters at the Chamber's weekly press briefing on Thursday that the price of bread was supposed to be based on its weight and if it was necessary the weight should be decreased and the price maintained.
He told reporters that if unions had been consulted on this issue before, this would have been their suggestion. He said too that it was irresponsible to increase the price of bread when the minimum wage remained the same, as this would reduce the workers' buying power.
When asked whether reducing the weight would not mean that bread-buyers would be eating less, Thompson said this probably would be a good way of combating obesity and making people healthier.
Carl and Son's Bakery Managing Director Carl Housen told The Daily Herald on Tuesday that the company would be increasing the price of its bread as of January 1, 2012, to match regional prices and to offset the rising cost of ingredients, transport, fuel, utilities and other components with which the bakery had to contend.
Housen had explained that two prices would be offered for bread: a wholesale price and a retail price (what the consumer pays). White sliced bread will increase from NAf. 2 retail to NAf. 2.50, with a NAf. 2.25 price per loaf for wholesale. Sliced wheat bread will increase from NAf. 2.50 retail to NAf. 3.25, with NAf. 2.70 for wholesale. Lard bread and butter bread will increase from NAf. 1.80 to NAf. 2.25 retail, with a NAf. 2 price for wholesale. French bread now will cost NAf. 2.70 retail and NAf. 2.23 wholesale.
Citing thousands of dollars in losses, Housen said he no longer could wait for official government indication to increase the price of bread. The move is similar to what bakeries in Cura�ao and Aruba did earlier this year when they went ahead and raised the price of bread to offset the rising cost.
Minister of Economic Affairs Franklin Meyers had confirmed in July that government probably would grant an increase, though not as much as the owners of bakeries had requested. While Meyers had stated that the issue should be finalised that month, government has given no indication about an increase to date. Carl and Son's requested the increase in January 2011.
The last price adjustment was approved in 2008, after Carl and Son's stopped producing bread for a short period, seeking increases to offset the same rising cost. The 2008 price increase was the first in about 10 years.
Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/23891-unions-reduce-bread-weight-rather-than-increasing-price-.html
Economic policy European debt crisis Pakistan cricket betting scandal BlackBurn Rovers Spending review 2010 Antigua & Barbuda
