CONFIDENTIAL
MET
6. AN INFORMAL MEETING WAS HELD WITH ASWO REPRESENTATIVES ON 9
OCTOBER WITH THE RESULT THAT THEY CALLED OFF THEIR SIT-IN AN DEPARTMENTAL AND SECRETARIAT REPRESENTATIVES FOR SUBSTANTIVE
FORMAL DISCUSSIONS ON 11 OCTOBER. AT THIS MEETING WE WERE ABLE
TO MEET THEIR POINT ON ENTRY REQUIREMENTS BUT MADE IT CLEAR THAT THERE WAS NO ROOM FOR FURTHER MANOEUVRE ON THE ASWO MAXIMUM SALARY LEVEL (WHICH IT IS PROPOSED TO INCREASE SUBSTANTIALLY FROM DOLLARS 4,435 TO 5,865). WE AGREED TO REVIEW THE NUMBER OF RANKS REQUIRED BY 1.4.80 AFTER THE NEW SYSTEM HAS BEEN GIVEN A FAIR
TEST.
7. THE PACKAGE FOR THE WELFARE ASSISTANTS IS CONSIDERED TO BE
GOOD BUT THERE IS LITTLE ROOM FOR MANOEUVRE ON THE SALARY SCALE.
THEY CONTINUED THEIR SIT-IN ON 11 OCTOBER AND WERE WARNED ON THAT
DAY THROUGH THEIR STAFF ASSOCIATION THAT ANY OFFICER WHO CONTINUED
NOT TO PERFORM HIS USUAL DUTIES ON 12 OCTOBER WOULD NOT BE PAID
WITH EFFECT FROM THAT DATE UNTIL SUCH TIME AS HE RESUMED WORK.
B. PERHAPS AS A RESULT OF THE WARNING LETTER, AND ALSO INFLUENCED
BY THE SUSPENSION OF THE SIT-IN BY THE ASWO'S, THE WELFARE
ASSISTANTS HAVE NOW AGREED TO CALL OFF THEIR SIT-IN TODAY ON THE
UNDERSTANDING THAT A WORKING PARTY WILL BE SET UP TO HAVE ANOTHER
LOOK AT THEIR DUTIES (AND SO GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO RE-ARGUE THEIR CASE FOR A LARGER SALARY INCREASE). HOWEVER, IT IS POSSIBLE
THAT THE WELFARE ASSISTANTS WILL SUBSTITUTE FOR THEIR SIT-IN
A LIMITED WORK-TO-RULE.
9. THERE HAS BEEN VERY LITTLE PUBLIC SYMPATHY FOR THIS INDUSTRIAL
ACTION.
10. I WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED OF DEVELOPMENTS.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
HKGD
OLA
NEWS D OID
MR.CORTAZZI
COPIES TO:
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2 CONFIDENTIAL
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