TNAG-2151-FCO40-3070-Trade-unions-in-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 14

031052Z

CO

NT:

UNCLASS

IED

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 3317

OF 13030OZ NOVEMBER 90

YOUR TELNO 2079 : SUMMARY OF ENGLISH PRESS 5 NOVEMBER : POSTAL WORKERS AND LETTERS PATENT

1. THE STANDING COMMISSION ON CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE IS CURRENTLY CONDUCTING A REVIEW OF THE SALARY STRUCTURE OF NON-DIRECTORATE CIVIL SERVANTS. IN AN ATTEMPT TO EXERT PRESSURE ON THE STANDING COMMISSION, A NUMBER OF STAFF UNIONS HAVE IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS RESORTED TO INDUSTRIAL ACTION IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER.

2. THE FOUR POSTAL WORKER UNIONS (HK UNION OF POST OFFICE EMPLOYEES: HK POSTAL WORKERS UNION: HK SUPERINTENDENTS OF POSTS ASSOCIATION: AND THE POSTAL WORKERS BRANCH OF THE HK CHINESE CIVIL SERVANTS ASSOCIATION) WHICH TOGETHER CLAIM TO REPRESENT 90 PER CENT OF THE 4600 POST OFFICE STAFF HAVE FOR SOME TIME BEEN PRESSING FOR IMPROVED PAY AND REDUCED HOURS OF WORK (FROM 48 TO 44 PER WEEK). THEY DECIDED ON 29 SEPTEMBER TO STAGE A FOUR-HOUR SIT-IN ON SATURDAY 20 OCTOBER TO ESCALATE THEIR ACTION: THIS NOTWITHSTANDING MANAGEMENT'S REPEATED APPEALS TO STAFF TO AWAIT PATIENTLY THE OUTCOME OF THE REVIEW EXPECTED TO BE KNOWN BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.

3. IN A LETTER DATED 12 OCTOBER TO THE CHAIRMEN OF THE FOUR POSTAL UNIONS THE POSTMASTER GENERAL APPEALED TO THEM ONCE AGAIN TO BE PATIENT. AT THE SAME TIME, HE WROTE: QUOTE IT IS MY DUTY AS HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT TO REMIND YOU AND YOUR MEMBERS THAT SUCH ACTION MAY INVITE THE IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS PROVIDED FOR UNDER CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS AND ARTICLE XVI OF THE LETTERS PATENT UNQUOTE.

4. PMG HANDED THIS LETTER TO THE UNION CHAIRMEN AFTER HIS MEETING WITH THEM ON 13 OCTOBER.

5. IN THE EVENT, THE UNIONS CANCELLED THE PLANNED SIT-IN: THE REFERENCE TO THE LETTERS PATENT IN THE PMG'S LETTER NO DOUBT PROVIDED THEM WITH A CONVENIENT PLATFORM TO DO SO. THE UNIONS SUBSEQUENTLY STAGED A PROTEST MARCH ON 4 NOVEMBER TO GOVERNMENT HOUSE PROTESTING AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT RESORTING TO THE LETTERS PATENT TO SUPPRESS UNION ACTIVITIES. THE UNIONS HAVE ALSO PETITIONED OMELCO AND THE ILO, AS WELL AS THREATENED TO DISRUPT CHRISTMAS MAIL IF THE GOVERNMENT FAILS TO RESPOND POSITIVELY TO THEIR DEMANDS FOR BETTER PAY AND REDUCED WORKING HOURS BY 23 NOVEMBER.

6. THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE ISSUED A PRESS STATEMENT ON 6 NOVEMBER EXPLAINING, INTER ALIA, THE CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS RELATING TO INDUSTRIAL ACTION BY CIVIL SERVANTS AS WELL AS THE LETTER PATENT (WHICH PROVIDED THE GOVERNOR WITH THE AUTHORITY, THROUGH THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, TO DRAW UP AND ENFORCE THESE REGULATIONS).

7. IT REMAINS OUR POLICY TO RESOLVE CIVIL SERVICE DISPUTES THROUGH FRANK AND DIRECT DIALOGUE BETWEEN MANAGEMENT AND STAFF. INDEED, THE CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS GOVERNING NON-PERFORMANCE OF DUTIES HAVE BEEN INVOKED ONLY ON THREE OCCASIONS IN THE PAST, AS FOLLOWS: