TNAG-0823-FCO40-1030-Policy-on-salaries-for-civil-servants-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 58

CONFIDENTIAL

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INDUSTRIAL ACTION BY MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENT ARCHITECTURAL, CARTOGRAPHIC, ENGINEERING AND SURVEYING TECHNICIANS (AGACEST)

Background

12.

On 18.8.77, Finance Committee approved a new simplified structure with improved pay scales and career prospects for the professional support grades in the Public Works Department. As a result of disagreement between management and staff associations about the new pay scales, some of the 1,000 strong Association of Government Architectural, Cartographic, Engineering and Surveying Technicians (AGACEST), mainly in the Public Works Department, staged a work-to-rule between 12th to 18th September 1977 in support of their claim for enhanced pay. An independent committee of enquiry was appointed by the Governor to enquire into the facts of the dispute, the new structure and pay rates and to proffer independent advice on their fairness or otherwise, and to recommend to the Government whether any amendments were necessary. The enquiry subsequently found that the new pay rates were broadly fair.

13.

In April 1978, the Executive Committee of AGACEST challenged the findings and conclusions of the Committee of Enquiry and asked that:

14.

(a)

(b)

(c)

the approved pay scales for their grade be revised;

promotion prospects be enhanced; and

a post-allowance, granted to members of another Association (AGLESO) because of their onerous responsibility, be similarly granted to their members.

A number of meetings have since been held with AGACEST and management has offered to convene a joint Working Party to study the administration and organisation of work with a view to improving promotion prospects. The Working Party need not preclude the study of pay and post-allowance if the Association had new evidences to put forward. The convening of the Working Party would of course be dependent: on the Association calling off a work-to-rule which commenced on 8th August 1978.

Current situation

15.

On 16th and 17th October 1978, members of the ACACEST staged a 2-day sit-in and resumed work-to-rule on 18.10.78 pending the setting up of the Working Party. Meanwhile revised terms of reference of the Working Party agreed by the Director of Public Works and Civil Service

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CONFIDENTIAL