TNAG-0785-FCO40-989-Study-of-labour-relations-in-Hong-Kong-by-Professor-H-A-Turn-1978 — Page 179

10.

*r>1. Depa nt officials recently tried to halt a signature campaign

Senior CSB officials described the Department's action as insane

by unions.

but could do little about it.

Joint consultation is unrepresentative at all levels but especially

The effective role at the central level where critical decisions are made.

of the SCSC in such decisions is minimal anyway. In effect, power is vested

in the top echelon of the liong Kong government (the Governor, Colonial

Secretary, Establishment Secretary, and Finance Secretary) and the strong

usiness interests represented on Legco.

The inadequacy of the formal channels of joint consultation and the

refusal of civil servants to accept private sector comparisons at the expense

of internal relativities both in principle and practice is at the heart of

union militancy. The raising of proposed salary grade changes with the

department head before referral to the CSB and PSD is seen by union officials

as an unnecessary bureaucratic impediment. The PSD itself, cannot cope with

the number of salary revisions - leading to delays that have only been

resolved where the union has been prepared to undertake informal action.

The gap between formal channels and informal practice has become acute because

the government refuses to recognise inconsistencies in its staff relations

policies or the right of unions to bargain directly.

The relationship of union organisation and militancy is highlighted by

Problems with teachers emanate disputes involving teachers and demarcators.

·

from the 1971 salary restructuring and employment rationalisation undertaken

by the government. On the basis of fair comparison, the government tried to

introduce a lower salary scale for teachers. At the same time, responsibility

for primary school education was being transferred to from fully government-

controlled scucols to private institutions receiving government assistance.

This meant a considerable surplus of primary school teachers and significantly

reduced promotion prospects. Strong staff side pressure and meetings of the

SCSC failed to resolve the disagreement. The government refused to make

concessions and in August 1972 invoked the new salary structure unilaterally.