CONFIDENTIAL
GR 1065
GRITY
CYPHER CAT A
FM HONG KONG 240655Z
CONFIDENTIAL
TO PRIORITY F C O TELNO 1227 OF 24 OCTOBER INFO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON.
POST OFFICE STAFF RELATIONS.
430 //
HKK 430
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 1978 2 4 OCT 1978
DESK OF INDEX
/PA
RCURY Action Teken
CLE
1. YOU WILL HAVE SEEN PRESS REPORTS ON THE INDUSTRIAL ACTION BY STAFF OF THE POST OFFICE.
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2. THE UNION OF HONG KONG POST OFFICE EMPLOYEES PETITIONED THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE ON 21.11.77 TO THE EFFECT THAT THE PROMOTION PROSPECTS FOR THE POSTAL OFFICER GRADE WERE
POOR AND THAT THEIR PAY SCALES DID NOT REFLECT THE RESPONSIBILITIES CARRIED. THE UNION PROPOSED THE COMBINATION OF VARIOUS RANKS AND INCREASES IN SALARY.
3. THE PROPOSALS WERE NOT SUPPORTED BY THE POSTMASTER GENERAL WHO CONSIDERED THAT THERE WAS NO CASE FOR AN UPWARD REVISION OF PAY NOR FOR COMBINATION OF RANKS. HE FURTHER CONSIDERED THAT, WITH THE REGRADING OF POSTAL OFFICERS IN CHARGE OF SMALL POST OFFICES TO SENIOR POSTAL OFFICERS, ALREADY AGREED AT THAT TIME, AND SIMILAR UPGRADING OF POSTAL OFFICERS ON POSTAL INSPECTOR DUTIES THEN UNDER REVIEW, AND SUBSEQUENTLY APPROVED IN AUGUST 1978,
PROMOTION PROSPECTS WOULD BECOME MORE SATISFACTORY. A FINAL REPLY WAS SENT IN AUGUST 1978, POINTING OUT THAT AS A RESULT OF THE UPGRADING EXERCISES, A TOTAL OF 58 SENIOR POSTS HAD BEEN CREATED SINCE AUGUST 1977 WHICH SHOULD CREAT PROMOTION OPPORTUNITIE FOR UNION MEMBERS, BUT CONFIRMING THAT THERE WAS NO CASE FOR PAY REVISION OR RANK COMBINATION OF THE POSTAL OFFICER GRADE.
4. FROM PRESS REPORTS ON 9.9.1978 IT WAS LEARNT THAT THE UNION. WAS CONSIDERING INDUSTRIAL ACTION TO PRESS ITS CLAIMS (WHICH HAD, INCIDENTALLY, NOW BEEN EXTENDED FOR THE FIRST TIME TO INCLUDE CLAIMS FROM POSTMEN AND ASSISTANT POSTMEN). AT THE UNION'S REQUEST A MEETING (OF THE DEPARTMENTAL FORUM PLUS UNION
REPRESENTATIVES AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE POSTMASTER GENERAL AND CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH) WAS HELD ON 5.10.1978. AT THAT MEETING IT
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