GR 545
PRIORITY
PHER CAT A
FM HONG KONG 1209472
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
TO PRIORITY F C O TELNO 1193 OF 12 OCTOBER 1978
INFO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON.
SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT STAFF RELATIONS.
201
See (41
HKK 430/1
(86
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY MO. 51 13 OCT 1978
No
OFFICER
YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THE PRESS REPORTS OF A SIT-IN BY STAFF OF
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT OVER A PROPOSED RESTRUCTURING OF
THE DEPARTMENT.
REGISTRY Action T
en
CLE
2. TWO GROUPS OF STAFF ARE INVOLVED WELFARE ASSISTANTS, WHO
MAINLY PERFORM CLERICAL TYPE DUTIES, AND ASSISTANT SOCIAL WELFARE
OFFICERS, WHO ARE GRADUATE SOCIAL WORKERS.
3. THE PROPOSED RESTRUCTURING PROVIDES SLIGHTLY IMPROVED SALARIES
PLUS GREATLY IMPROVED SALARIES PLUS GREATLY IMPROVED PROMOTION PROSPECTS FOR WELFARE ASSISTANTS, AND BETTER SALARIES FOR THE TWO MAIN RANKS IN THE SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER GRADE. THE PACKAGE WAS EXPLAINED TO STAFF REPRESENTATIVES AT A JOINT CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL MEETING ON 4 OCTOBER WHICH WAS TO BE FOLLOWED BY MORE DETAILED SEPARATE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE INDIVIDUAL GRADES.
4. THE MEETING WITH THE WELFARE CLASS TOOK PLACE THE SAME DAY. THE WELFARE ASSISTANTS MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY WERE NOT SATISFIED
WITH THE SALARIES PROPOSED, WALKED OUT OF THE MEETING AND ANNOUNCED A SIT-IN (DURING WHICH NO WORK IS PERFORMED) FOR
2 WEEKS STARTING ON 9 OCTOBER.
5. WITHOUT ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION THE ASSISTANT SOCIAL WELFARE
OFFICERS LATER ANNOUNCED THEY WOULD JOIN THE SIT-IN UNTIL SATISFIED ON THREE POINTS. THEY ARE ESPECIALLY ANXIOUS THAT A
DEGREE IN SOCIAL WORK SHOULD REMAIN THE NORMAL ENTRY REQUIREMENT FOR THE GRADE: THEY ARE ASKING FOR A HIGHER MAXIMUM SALARY FOR ASSISTANT SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICERS: AND THEY WISH THE STRUCTURE OF
THE GRADE TO BE ALTERED TO PROVIDE BETTER PROMOTION PROSPECTS.
CONFTINITAT.
16. AN
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.