31.   The government of Chancellor Helmut Kohl wanted to freeze public sector wages as part of budget trimming measures that include cuts in many social welfare benefits.

32.   The plan would freeze wages for public employees for two years and cut their sick pay and holiday benefits.

33.   The plan largely targeted public employees, freezing wages and cutting benefits.

34.   The unions are trying to force the government to drop its proposal of freezing public sector wages for two years as part of an austerity program.

35.   Unions and management have been in bitter conflict since November, when management proposed plans to freeze wages, increase working hours and require more labor flexibility.

36.   His budget for next year will hit the saver as well as the consumer, while civil servants whose wages have been frozen are to strike next month.

37.   Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram had planned to cut government jobs and freeze wages of millions of government employees.