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Monday, June 25, 1973
The salary scale for nurses, a key grade in the class, was settled
in late 1971. Interim scales were provided in early 1972 so that back pay
could be given to the remaining grades in the class, and discussions continued
in the Senior Civil Service Council concerning these grades.
Agreement could not be reached on four grades, midwives, nursing
auxiliaries, health auxiliaries and inoculators, so in April 1972 the
council set up a working party, representing both its official and staff
sides, to examine the responsibilities and working conditions of these
grades.
The working party completed its reports in November, and these
were put to the council earlier this year. The council discussed these
matters extensively at eight meetings held between February 26 and today,
during which the staff side effectively put forward the case for improvements.
The official side revised its preliminary proposals in the light
of these arguments, although it was unable to accept entirely the views
of the staff side.
Compared with the scales before April 1, 1971, the revised scales
to have effect on that date, represent, for midwives, increases averaging
30 per cent; for inoculators, increases averaging 27 per cent; and for
nursing auxiliaries, increases averaging 80 per cent.
These figures, of course, include the benefit of the interim increases
granted in early 1972.
The arrangements will continue whereby midwives are working
regular hours and are not liable to on-call duty except in emergency.
/The position .....