XN000022-1975-06-21 — Page 2

SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 1975.

NO CUTS IN GOVERNMENT CLERICAL STAFF

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THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, MR. A.J. SCOTT, SAID TODAY OFFICIALS OF THE GOVERNMENT CLERICAL OFFICERS' ASSOCIATION HAD APPARENTLY HISUNDERSTOOD A CONFIDENTIAL MEMO WHICH THEY CLAIMED CALLED FOR CUTS IN GOVERNMENT CLERICAL STAFF.

HE SAID THE MEMO IN NO WAY SUGGESTED THAT CLERICAL OFFICERS WOULD DE RETRENCHED IN THE COURSE OF IMPLEMENTING THE RECENTLY ANNOUNCED PACKAGE AGREEMENT ON THE CLERICAL GRADES,

+THE ASSOCIATION HAS CONFUSED IN THEIR PUBLIC STATEMENTS THE REDUCTION IN POSTS AGREED OFFICIALLY BETWEEN REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE CLERICAL STAFF WITH A REDUCTION IN THE EXISTING STAFF,+ HE SAID.

+IT SHOULD BE CLEAR TO THE ASSOCIATION FROM READING THE MEMO THAT ANY REDUCTION IN CLERICAL POSTS WILL NOT AFFECT STAFF NOW EMPLOYED BY THE GOVERNMENT,

+ADJUSTMENTS IN POSTS WILL BE MADE ONLY THROUGH FATURAL WASTAGE, SUCH AS TRANSFERS, RESIGNATIONS AND RETIREMENTS.

+THIS IS NORMAL GOVERNMENT PROCEDURE AND NOTHING CONTAINED IN THE MEMO TO WHICH THE ASSOCIATION HAS REFERRED IN PRESS REPORTS INDICATES THAT ANY OTHER APPROACH HAS BEEN CONTEMPLATED.

+IF THE ASSOCIATION THINKS THAT ANY OF ITS MEMBERS WILL LOSE THEIR JOBS BECAUSE OF THE RECENT AGREEMENT THEN NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

+THE REDUCTION IN POSTS AS A MEASURE OF ACHIEVING SAVINGS · WAS, OF COURSE, PROPOSED BY THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE CLERICAL CLASS, ON WHICH THERE WERE BOTH OFFICIAL AND ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVES.+

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MR. SCOTT SAID HE WAS MYSTIFIED BY REPORTED ASSOCIATION CLAIMS THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS CONTINUING TO MAKE REGULAR. ADJUSTMENTS TO HOUSING ALLOWANCES FOR CIVIL SERVANTS EARNING $4,900 AND ABOVE.

+THESE ALLOWANCES HAVE NOT BEEN ALTERED SINCE 1973+ HE ADDED.

MR. SCOTT SAID HE WAS ALSO MYSTIFIED BY REPEATED REFERENCES BY THE ASSOCIATION TO PAY RISES GRANTED TO OVERSEAS QUALIFIED SCHOOL MISTRESSES.

+THE ASSOCIATION REPORTEDLY CLAIMS THAT THE SCHOOL MISTRESSES PUT IN THEIR CLAIM AFTER THE CLERKS AND WERE GRANTED THEIR RISE,+ HE SAID.

+THIS IS NOT TRUE, BECAUSE THE INCREASES GRANTED TO SCHOOL MISTRESSES IN 1974 WERE PART OF THE NEW SALARY STRUCTURE FOR TEACHERS WHICH HAD BEEN UNDER DISCUSSION AND GRADUAL IMPLEMENTATION FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS PREVIOUSLY.+

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