Labour Court Database __________________________________________________________________________________ File Number: CD94703 Case Number: LCR14671 Section / Act: S26(1) Parties: RADIO TELEFIS EIREANN - and - SERVICES INDUSTRIAL PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL UNION |
Regrading of Autocue Operators.
Recommendation:
It is clear to the Court, having considered the submissions, that
the parties are not agreed on the grading appropriate to the
Autocue function under present conditions.
The Court recommends that the parties agree a job description for
the Autocue job as it is now, and submit it to the evaluation
committee for evaluation and the establishment of the grade
appropriate to the job.
Division: Mr Flood Mr Keogh Mr Walsh
Text of Document__________________________________________________________________
CD94703 RECOMMENDATION NO. LCR14671
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACTS, 1946 TO 1990
SECTION 26(1), INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT, 1990
PARTIES:
RADIO TELEFIS EIREANN
AND
SERVICES INDUSTRIAL PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL UNION
SUBJECT:
1. Regrading of Autocue Operators.
BACKGROUND:
2. The dispute concerns 3 Autocue Operators whom the Union
claims have been wrongly graded since 1986/7. At present,
they are paid on the 'Secretarial Assistant' scale (#8,683 -
#11,476) but the Union claims that they should be paid on the
'Graphics Assistant' scale (#10,730 - #14,619).
During local discussions, the Authority offered to place the
workers on the 'Senior Secretarial Assistant' scale (#9,268 -
#12,801) but this was unacceptable to the workers. The Union
maintains that the 'Autocue' scale is still in existence and
that all correspondence refers to the workers as 'Autocue
Operators' and not as 'Secretarial Assistants'.
According to the Authority, Autocue Operators were first
taken on in 1974 on the Secretarial Assistant grade. In
1978, a new scale was introduced for Autocue ('Capgen
Operators'). By 1987, the job had become more graphics
-orientated, containing a design element. This new
"composite" job was entitled "Graphics Assistant" with the
same salary as the then Autocue/Capgen scale. At and since
that time, workers were employed on autocue only without the
graphics/capgen element. They were graded as Secretarial
Assistants and accepted the job on that grading.
The dispute was the subject of a conciliation conference
under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission, at
which agreement was not reached. The dispute was referred to
the Labour Court on the 25th of November, 1994, in accordance
with Section 26(1) of the Industrial Relations Act, 1990.
The Court investigated the dispute on the 20th of January,
1995.
UNION'S ARGUMENTS:
3. 1. In 1987 when the three former Autocue/Capgen Operators
were redeployed into Graphic Design as Graphic
Assistants, it was not envisaged that there would be an
ongoing requirement for the grade of Autocue Operator.
What appears to have happened is that one worker who
jointed Autocue in 1986 on assignment from the Typing
Pool, carried with her the pay scale from her previous
Secretarial position. This pay scale was then extended
to the other two workers on their appointment to
Autocue.
2. There was no agreement, reached or implied, that Autocue
Operators employed post-1987 would be paid less than the
previously agreed Autocue/Capgen Operator Scale.
Indeed, this is borne out by the continued separate
listing of the Graphics Assistant Scale (034) and the
Autocue Operator Scale (207) (which are identical) in
the Authority's own documentation. These documents also
list Secretarial Assistant (301) and Senior Secretarial
Assistant (302) as separate pay scales appropriate to
those performing secretarial work.
3. Scale 207 is listed as 'Autocue Operator (existing
incumbents as Scale 301)'. This suggests that a
separate Scale for Autocue Operators continues to exist,
but that the incumbents (for whatever reason) are on a
different pay scale.
4. The job of Autocue Operator is not a secretarial job as
is illustrated by the job description (details
supplied). The Autocue Operators' role and functions
have changed and expanded over recent years. New
technology has also been introduced.
5. In all correspondence received from the Authority the
incumbent Autocue Operators are referred to as Autocue
Operators not as Secretarial Assistants.
6. There would be no knock-on effects if the Authority
conceded the claim.
AUTHORITY'S ARGUMENTS:
4. 1. The group of staff in question, in accordance with
agreements, are appropriately graded for their Autocue
post. The offer of progression to Senior Secretarial
Assistant grade represents an increase in basic pay of
approximately 11.5% max to max of scale. This
represents a substantial offer and is fully in keeping
with the agreements.
2. The Union in their correspondence of 10th November,
1993, refers to the defunct grade of Autocue/ Capgen
Scale (207), which encapsulates two distinct functions
(details supplied). This scale is appropriate to the
Graphics Assistant grade since the 1987 agreement.
Scale 207 was subsumed as the new Graphics grade 034.
3. The Union, which put a strong case for the upgrading of
Capgen Operators on the basis of their additional
responsibilities and complexity of their work, is now
arguing that this work is of no higher value than the
current 'Autocue only' function.
4. The Authority replied to the Union on the 9th December,
1993 setting out the position regarding salary scale 207
and clarified the position pertaining to the Autocue
group (details supplied). It should be noted that scale
207 is obsolete and was held in the Personnel Salary
Book only as a reference to retired staff.
5. The Authority has been fair in its dealings with the
staff in this particular section and has made every
effort to find a settlement. However, any settlement
has to be set against the level of responsibility
required in carrying out that work. For example, the
job of retrieval and display of teleprompter information
is actually carried out by 'runners' in the News Studio.
6. It is essential for all concerned to ensure that the
appropriate grading levels and the integrity of
agreements are maintained, in the interests of
competitiveness and cost-containment. In this
particular case, the entry-level grade for the entire
Graphic Design structure, which usually requires third
level qualifications, would be interfered with. It is
important to ensure that the substantive position does
not alter as it could have repercussions across may
other grades.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is clear to the Court, having considered the submissions, that
the parties are not agreed on the grading appropriate to the
Autocue function under present conditions.
The Court recommends that the parties agree a job description for
the Autocue job as it is now, and submit it to the evaluation
committee for evaluation and the establishment of the grade
appropriate to the job.
~
Signed on behalf of the Labour Court
6th February, 1995 Finbarr Flood
M.K./M.M. _______________
Deputy Chairman
Note
Enquiries concerning this Recommendation should be addressed to
Mr. Michael Keegan, Court Secretary.