I get where your coming from Clicker, but you were getting pay awards at the rate of inflation, so you were staying at a level.
I know people that haven't had a rise for about 5 odd years who are in effect going backwards in their earnings.
I know one guy started at a Company on a competitive wage, he worked there for 7 and never once got a rise despite asking, eventually he had to leave the job he loved as he simply couldn't afford to stay, the Company then had to take on a replacement, found of course they couldn't find anyone as good nor as experienced for the money, so had to employ a less skilled chap on a higher more competitive wage.... And hence the merry go round started again with the new guy, no pay rises etc..