Public Service called on to honour typists’ wages

Press, 12 August 1985, Page 14

Public Service called on to honour typists’ wages

PA Wellington The chairman of the State Services Commission, Dr Mervyn Probine, has called on the Public Service Association to honour an agreement on typists’ wages and conditions.

Negotiations earlier this year reached agreement between the commission and the Combined State Unions (including the P.S.A.) on increased pay for Public Service typists and new merit grades that would recognise staff who were doing an exceptional job. It was made clear during negotiations that the merit grades would not apply to staff in all positions, Dr Probine said. Settlement was reached on the basis that only exceptional performance would be rewarded, he said.

“The P.S.A. is now trying to change the agreement

reached by extending the positions to which merit grades will apply and making the grades available to almost all staff on the same basis — regardless of their performance,” Dr Probine said.

“The commission expects the P.S.A. to honour the agreement reached earlier this year,” he said.

Dr Probine said the commission had responded to concerns expressed by typists.

It had done this by putting forward a proposal under which staff doing an outstanding job could go on to the new merit grades after 12 months on the top of the normal scale, and staff who had shown they could do their full job competently could go to the new grades after two years. “This proposal recognises

that different levels of performance exist. It rewards outstanding staff. It also gives other staff who have shown they can do their jobs effective access to new grades,” Dr Probine said.