XN000022-1975-09-12 — Page 2

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1975

GOVT REPLIES TO CLERKS' PROPOSALS

*****

THE GOVERNMENT TODAY SAID THAT THE LATEST PROPOSALS OF THE CLERICAL STAFF ASSOCIATION FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WAGE INCREASE WERE NOT A COMPROMISE LUT A REPETITION OF ITS EARLIER REQUEST,

HOWEVER, IN A LETTER TO THE ASSOCIATION, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, MR. RON BRIDGE, REITERATED THAT THE PAY PACKAGE WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED FROM APRIL 1 NEXT YEAR.

THE ASSOCIATION HAD WRITTEN TO THE GOVERNMENT MAKING TWO PROPOSALS BOTH OF WHICH INVOLVED BACK PAYMENT TO APRIL 1, 1975.

IN THE REPLY, MR. BRIDGE EXPLAINED THAT THE PROPOSALS WERE MERELY A REPETITION, IN A DIFFERENT FORM, OF AN EARLIER REQUEST THAT ALL RECOMMENDATIONS MADE TO THE GOVERNMENT BY THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE CLERICAL CLASS SHOULD BE EFFECTIVE FROM APRIL 1, 1975.

HE REMINDED THE ASSOCIATION THAT IN ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDA- TIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION ON APRIL 1, 1976, THE GOVERNMENT HAS GONE AS FAR AS IT COULD REASONALLY GO+.

+THE GOVERNMENT HAS AGREED TO SUBSTANTIAL SALARY IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE CLERICAL CLASS IN SIX MONTHS' TIME,+ HE SAID.

THE ASSOCIATION SHOULD APPRECIATE THAT AN IMMEDIATE OR BACK- DATED WAGE INCREASE FOR A SEGMENT OF THE CIVIL SERVICE WOULD BE RESENTED BY THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE WHEN SO MANY OTHER EMPLOYEES HAVE SUFFERED A REDUCTION IN INCOME OR SHORT TIME WORKING AND THERE HAS BEEN SUBSTANTIAL UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDER-EMPLOYMENT.

THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE SAID HE HOPED THE COUNCIL OF THE ASSOCIATION WOULD DO ITS BEST TO PERSUADE THE MEMBERS FROM CONTINUED OR FURTHER INDUSTRIAL ACTION.

/2