Labour Court Database __________________________________________________________________________________ File Number: CD88179 Case Number: LCR12096 Section / Act: S67 Parties: DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE - and - MANUFACTURING SCIENCE FINANCE |
Claim by the Union on behalf of 10 telecommunication technicians for parity of pay with technical officer grade III in the Department of Communications and the introduction of a grading structure.
Recommendation:
10. Having considered the submissions of the parties the Court
has come to the conclusion that the technicians concerned whilst
engaged on somewhat similar duties, do not have the same extent of
reponsibilities and deal with a narrower range of equipment. The
claim for parity is not therefore sustainable but the Court is of
the view that salaries should be related and recommends that the
salary structure of the technicians concerned should be
established at the rate for Communications Technical Officer Grade
III minus 12.5% to be paid in accordance with the terms of the
National Programme for Recovery.
Division: Mr O'Connell Mr Heffernan Ms Ni Mhurchu
Text of Document__________________________________________________________________
CD88179 RECOMMENDATION NO. LCR12096
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACTS, 1946 TO 1976
SECTION 67
PARTIES: DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE
and
MANUFACTURING SCIENCE FINANCE
SUBJECT:
1. Claim by the Union on behalf of 10 telecommunication
technicians for parity of pay with technical officer grade III in
the Department of Communications and the introduction of a grading
structure.
BACKGROUND:
2. The Department employs ten telecommunications technicians with
the army signal corps, five at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnell, one
at Gormanstown Camp and four at the Curragh Camp.
3. In 1974 the posts were re-classified by the Department as
telecommunications technicians where formerly they were called
radio mechanic. A revised scale of pay was also introduced at
that time.
4. Various claims for special pay increases have been lodged and
processed over the years and in 1979 agreement was reached whereby
the present salary scale was introduced. Since then the scale has
attracted the various increases under the National Agreements and
Understandings. The current scale of annual pay is as follows:-
Telecommunication Technical Officer
Technician Grade 3
£ £
On entry 8,980 11,426
9,375 11,915
9,767 12,406
10,163 12,889
10,552 13,381
10,949 13,866
11,341 14,355
11,736 14,845
12,128 15,223
12,520 15,816
12,916 16,309
16,809
5. Since the early 1980's there have been ongoing discussions on
special pay increases for the workers concerned. In September,
1987 a claim for parity of pay with technical officer grade III
and the introduction of a grading structure was referred to the
conciliation service of the Labour Court. Conciliation
conferences was held on 7th and 11th December, 1987. As no
agreement was reached both parties consented to a referral to the
Labour Court for investigation and recommendation. A Court
hearing was held on 21st April, 1988.
6. At the Court hearing the Department conceded that some form of
pay relationship was desirable and offered to relate the pay of
the workers concerned to that of the clerk of works in the
Department of Defence. As this was the first time the Union had
received this offer it was agreed to adjourn the hearing to allow
consideration of, and if necessary local discussions to take place
on the offer.
7. The Union subsequently rejected the offer and a resumed Court
hearing was held on 28th September, 1988.
UNION'S ARGUMENTS:
8. 1. The Union rejected the Departments offer as the grade of
clerk of workers has absolutely no relationship with the work
of the telecommunications technicians. They both operate in
completely different fields of industry.
2. Since the present pay scales were set up in 1980 the
technology used in the communications field has advanced more
than any other sector in the electronics field. Communication
equipment now incorporates micro-computers in the form of very
large scale integrated circuits to perform many different
functions. Due to the wages not reflecting the advancements
made in the communications industry where such employees are
sought after many employees both civilian and military have
obtained employment elsewhere.
3. Both parties are in agreement that some form of pay
relationship is desirable for the workers concerned. It is
the Union's contention that the grade most suitable for parity
is that of technical officer grade III as both grades perform
similar duties (details supplied to the Court).
DEPARTMENT'S ARGUMENTS:
9. 1. There has never been a direct relationship between the
rates of pay of telecommunication technicians and technical
officers grade III. The technical officer grade III are
conditioned to a seven day liability and this is reflected in
their scale of pay. There has never been a detailed
comparison of the work content of both grades.
2. The current scale for technical officers grade III has
been reached over the years via productivity agreements which
involved, inter alia, reduced manning levels. There is no
scope for similar productivity agreements in the Department of
Defence in the case of telecommunications technicians.
3. It is considered that the scale of pay of
telecommunication technicians is commensurate with the duties
involved and the qualifications required (details supplied to
Court). However it is conceded that some form of pay
relationship is desirable and the Department is prepared to
related the pay of telecommunication technicians to clerk of
works in the Department of Defence. Any special increase
would be subject to Clause 3.2 of the Agreement on Pay in the
Public Service. The clerk of works grade is in turn related,
for pay purposes, to the grade of executive officer in the
civil service.
RECOMMENDATION:
10. Having considered the submissions of the parties the Court
has come to the conclusion that the technicians concerned whilst
engaged on somewhat similar duties, do not have the same extent of
reponsibilities and deal with a narrower range of equipment. The
claim for parity is not therefore sustainable but the Court is of
the view that salaries should be related and recommends that the
salary structure of the technicians concerned should be
established at the rate for Communications Technical Officer Grade
III minus 12.5% to be paid in accordance with the terms of the
National Programme for Recovery.
~
Signed on behalf of the Labour Court
John O'Connell
__________________________
27th October, 1988. Deputy Chairman
M.D./J.C.