State service also bound

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33514, 20 April 1974, Page 2

State service also bound

State sen ants would also be bound by the same wage rules as the private sector. Mr Watt announced.

“They will all receive the 9 per cent general increase from July 1. 1974. and any future general adjustments. “Increases of up to onequarter of the general wage adjustment will be able to; be negotiated for indivi lua! occupational classes with the appropriate employing authority at intervals of not less than 12 month ” RULING PROVISK)N The State Services Tribunal or the appropriate single service tribunal would de-, etde any claims where an in- i crease of more than onequarter of the general wage adjustment was agreed in negotiations, or where no’ agreement coulo be reached. ' Mr Watt sai ’ ruling rates surveys would continue to be taken at annua! intervals, and could be used as guidelines in negotiations. "Half-yearly surveys will also continue to be taken, but will revert to their role as a statistical series. Their direct application to State service wage rates will < ease " "MAJOR CAL'St” Mr Watt *aid one of the main causes of instability in wage and alary fixing had' been the inter-relation of' wage increases between the State services, the private; sector, and other bodies tn the public sector, including local authorities "The bulk ot local author ity employees .re bound by agreements similar to those that apply for the private sector," he said. "The levels of top salaries are not, however, determined in this way. It has been decided that, as far as practicable. al, public sector top salaries should be brought under one 'vage-lixing body.” A higher salarie, commission would be established to; cover parliamentarians, the top officers in all local au- '•

thorities and statutory ■ cor-; porations. The Government was. examining what other public b'Kiies and al->o how other top public employees (such, as top university staff and those whose salaries are now subject to recommend-j ation by the Advisory Com-1 mittee on Higher Salaries ini the State Services), couid be) brought within the purview of the commission. M.P.s MISS “Because we have only, ' recently taken an increase, I and although it is the first; we have received in three years,” said Mr Watt, "Parliamentarians will not receivethe 9 per cent increase but will subsequently be on the same footing as all the others.