XN000022-1978-04-19 — Page 6

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 1978

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MR. MACE SAID THE PENSION ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE NON-INDUSTRIAL CIVIL SERVANT HAD THE EFFECT OF DETERRING MOBILITY SINCE THEY PROVIDED FOR PAYMENT OF PENSION ONLY AFTER REACHING AGE 50 AND WITH A MINIMUM OF 10 YEARS' SERVICE.

HE SAID BY AND LARGE THE PUBLIC SERVICE WANTED THE BULK OF ITS MIDDLE AND SENIOR STAFF TO STAY FOR A WORKING LIFE TIME. MOST DID SO, NOT ONLY BECAUSE THEY WERE LOCKED INTO THEIR PENSION ARRANGEMENTS BUT ALSO BECAUSE IN LARGE AREAS OF WORK THE EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE GAINED HAD LITTLE MARKET VALUE IN THE COMMERCIAL FIELD.

+SO, UNLIKE THE EMPLOYEES OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY WHO CAN "VOTE WITH THEIR FEET' NOT GETTING A FAIR DEAL THE CIVIL SERVICE.

LEAVE THE COMPANY IF THEY CONSIDER THEY ARE

THIS IS NOT EQUALLY AN ALTERNATIVE FOR

+I SUGGEST TO YOU, THEREFORE, IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE THAT, ONCE HAVING IRRETRIEVABLY COMMITED HIMSELF TO THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE PUBLIC SERVANT IS HIGHLY SENSITIVE TO HIS EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS.+

MR. MACE ALSO SUGGESTED IT WAS ONLY TO BE EXPECTED THAT CIVIL SERVANTS WERE MORE VOCAL THAN IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR BECAUSE THEY WERE BACKED BY A HIGH DEGREE OF JOB SECURITY AND IN A SITUATION WHERE DETAILS OF EVERY CIVIL SERVANT'S PAY AND CONDITIONS WERE PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE FOR THE PRICE OF A COPY OF THE PRINTED ESTIMATES. THE TWO SITUATIONS WERE REALLY VERY DIFFERENT, HE SAID.

+HAVING SAID THIS WOULD NOT HOWEVER LIKE YOU TO GAIN THE IMPRESSION THAT WE ARE AT ALL COMPLACENT. EVEN ONE SERIOUS DISPUTE IS TOO MANY AND I HAVE MADE THESE COMMENTS NOT IN EXCUSE, BUT SIMPLY TO HELP A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROBLEMS AND DIFFICULTIES WE FACE IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.+

HE SAID THERE WAS CERTAINLY MUCH TO BE DONE IN THE FIELD OF PAY MANAGEMENT WHICH, LIKE OTHER ASPECTS OF PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION, WAS DEMANDING MORE ATTENTION THAN HAD EVER BEEN NECESSARY IN THE PAST.

+ I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THE CIVIL SERVICE IS VERY MUCH AWARE OF THE NEED FOR GREATER EFFORT IN THIS FIELD AND THAT WE ARE DOING ALL WE CAN TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS IN A CONSTRUCTIVE WAY, HE SAID.

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