Arrangements for distribution of copies of the Report to Heads of Departments and staff associations will be co-ordinated with the publicity arrangements described in paragraph 44. Any representations received on the recommendations will be referred to the Commission for consideration.
Staff Reaction
42
Staff reaction to the Report will probably be related to the method of processing as well as to the actual recommendations. It may be alleged that approval of the Report prior to publication effectively prevents consultation. Certain general recommendations such as the revised conversion arrangements and the extension of eligibility for fringe benefits to married female staff are a response to Staff Side representations and will therefore be welcome, although the Disciplined Services may complain because the new rules do not apply to the special conversion arrangements arising from Report No 2. The grade recommendations may receive a mixed reception. Protest is particularly likely from three major grades which were not dealt with in Report No 2, and which the Commission has not been able to include in Report No 5, namely Housing Assistants, Housing Managers and Works Supervisors. The Commission is well aware of the sensitivity of these grades, and has indicated in paragraph 9. 2 that they are under active consideration and that advice will be tendered on each of these grades as soon as the Commission has finalised its views.
Public Reaction
43
It is not anticipated that this Report will arouse the degree of interest generated by Report No 2, in view of the unrelated and detailed nature of many of the recommendations, and the much smaller number of grades affected. Those recommendations of most interest to the public are likely to be the proposals for the Education grades, the revised pay scale for Model Scale 1 staff, and the extension of eligibility for fringe benefits to married female staff. Reaction to these may vary. The public is normally sympathetic to junior and lower paid civil servants and is likely therefore to support the revised Model Scale 1. Concern with the Education grades proposals may only develop if there is adverse staff reaction and an indication of potential unrest. The position is of course complicated by the large subvented sector affected by any changes in pay for the Education grades. Considerable controversy is likely over the extension of eligibility for fringe benefits to married female staff and criticism is likely both from some sections of the public and from some private sector employers, as Government in this case would be taking the lead. More generally, some members of the public may be confused by the series of Reports by the Commission and misunderstand Report No 5 as yet another general pay rise.
CONFIDENTIAL
機密