XN000022-1973-06-25 — Page 18

17

-

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 .....