XN000022-1975-03-27 — Page 7

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THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 1975

LABOUR DEPARTMENT HELPS SETTLE TWO-MONTH LONG

DISPUTE IN TWO HOURS

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THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TODAY BECAME OFFICIALLY INVOLVED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE TWO-MONTH OLD METRO-DODWELL SEVERANCE PAY DISPUTE -- AND ARRANGED A SETTLEMENT IN TWO HOURS.

THE SETTLEMENT FOLLOWED A LONG SERIES OF DIRECT NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MANAGEMENT AND 37 WORKERS WHO WERE RETRENCHED ON JANUARY 31,

THE DEPARTMENT HAD TWICE OFFERED ITS CONCILIATION SERVICES EARLY IN THE DISPUTE BUT THE WORKERS PREFERRED TO PRESS THE IR CLAIMS FOR MORE GENEROUS SETTLEMENT TERMS BY DIRECT NEGOTIATION WITH COMPANY EXECUTIVES.

THE DIRECT NEGOTIATIONS BECAME DEAD-LOCKED AND YESTERDAY BOTH WORKERS AND MANAGEMENT ACCEPTED A NEW OFFER FROM THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE TO CONCILIATE IN THE DISPUTE.

THE SERVICE IMMEDIATELY ARRANGED A CONCILIATION MEETING CHAIRED BY LABOUR OFFICER, MR. TO SAU-HONG AT 9.15 A.M. TODAY. THE PARTIES SIGNED AN AGREEMENT AT 11.15 A.M.

THE AGREEMENT PROVIDES EACH WORKER WITH ONE MONTH'S WAGES IN LIEU OF NOTICE, CHINESE NEW YEAR BONUS, SEVERANCE PAY AT A RATE OF 10 DAYS WAGES FOR EACH YEAR OF SERVICE IRRESPECTIVE OF THE LENGTH OF SERVICE AND 12 DAYS WAGES AS COMPENSATION FOR LEAVE EARNED.

THE DEPARTMENT MADE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE WORKERS TO COLLECT THEIR PAYMENTS THIS AFTERNOON.

HOUSING AUTHORITY UNOFFICIALS GET EXTRA TERM

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THE GOVERNOR HAS REAPPOINTED 12 UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR A FURTHER PERIOD OF TWO YEARS BEGINNING ON APRIL 1.

THEY ARE MR, BROOK BERNACCHI, MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, MRS. ELSIE ELLIOTT, MR. H.M.G. FORSGATE, DR. DENNY M.H. HUANG, MR. KENNETH T.C. LO, MR. ROGER LOBO, MR. A. DE 0. SALES, MR. CHAN TAK-TAI, MR. CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, MR. Y.K. KAN, AND MR. V.O. ROBERTS.

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