Extract from Report by the Overseas Labour Adviser on
a visit to Hong Kong: 16 February - 2 March 1978
STAFF RELATIONS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE
28. The multiplicity of trade unions has already been mentioned as a problem in the field of industrial relations (para.22 above). The Civil Service in particular has seen a proliferation of small trade unions over the past 10 years, the number having increased from 24 to 73 or by about 200%. Professor Turner is working in this field but it seems that this growth in the number of trade unions and what appears to be increasing militancy in their leadership and membership stems from dissatisfaction at grade and departmental level over relativities within the master pay scale. Discussions on pay structure are permissible within Departmental Consultative Councils but subsequent action depends on departmental heads. If he does not support the case or fails in the representations he makes on his officials' behalf, there do not appear to be any constitutional channels which the officials can follow, except perhaps to petition the Secretary for the Civil Service. Priority should be given to revaluating the role and functions of Departmental Consultative Councils and utilising them to absorb the energies of the largely sectional and small trade unions which now exist. As a first step, the creation of Departmental Consultative Councils might be made compulsory, with a constitution which permits reference of issues in dispute either to the Senior Civil Service Council or, preferably, to some form of permanent and independent Civil Service Arbitration Tribunal. Similarly, matters in dispute within the Senior Civil Service Council might be dealt with by the Tribunal.
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