TNAG-0130-FCO40-166-Staff-Associations-and-Trade-Unions-1969 — Page 57

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Equal Pay for Women (27)

Mr. Clinton opened the discussion by referring to the Establishment Officer's letter of 13th Jung which invited the staff side's views on an accompanying draft implementation circular. Mr. Chung and Mr. Lai said that as they had only received the letter and draft circular that day (16th) they were unable to comment on them. Mr. Hodson expressed dis- appointment that the letter did not answer the staff side's request for the reasons for deferring grades such as teachers and nurses from the scheme. Although he agreed to the issue of the circular in the interests of the grades who would benefit from it, his association reserved its position on the deferred grades aspect which they would ask to be referred to a Committee of Inquiry if it could not be satisfactorily resolved.

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40/2. Mr. Chung enquired why the grade of Machinist appeared in the list of excluded grades. Mr. Henderson replied that this was entirely a female grade with no male equivalent. Mr. Chung then enquired why Social Welfare Officers were in the deferred group. Mr. Henderson said that like Nurses and Teachers this grade required further examination. Mr. Chung said he would have to take this up with his members in that grade. Mr. Clinton noted this but asked whether the staff side could say whether or not they agreed to the issue of the circular. Mr. Chung and Mr. Lai said they would give their comments on the circular within two weeks.

40/3. Mr. Clinton reverted to the assurances sought by the staff side on deferred grades only one of which was now outstanding namely the right of serving female officers to transfer to existing male scales. As this was still under examination he was unable to declare there were no prospects of reaching agreement and accordingly he questioned whether the remarks made by the staff side about reference of the matter to a Committee of Inquiry were in order. Mr. Hodson said the staff side had hinted their intention of reference to a Committee of Inquiry because they had not been told the reasons for the delay in giving the assurance they sought. Mr. Clinton said he understood the reasons for the staff side's concern but stressed that a state of deadlock had not yet been reached.

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At Mr. Lai's request Mr. Clinton briefly recapitulated the complications of applying equal pay to nurses and teachers. The future structure of these grades was still under close examination; in the case of teachers, the probable effects on

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