I FEEL compelled to bring to the attention of Bury people seeking employment the value that the local authority appears to put on the secretaries and clerical assistants they employ.

In the Local Government "Jobs" bulletin dated November 30, there are two advertisements, one for supply secretary/clerical assistants, one for relief cleaners. Both positions are available to cover for permanent staff who are absent due to illness. Both jobs are offered at exactly the same rate of pay, £4.47 per hour.

I am not undermining the cleaning post, as it is skilled in its own right, but the advertisement does not state that you need any particular qualifications or experience as training will be given. However, supply secretary/clerical assistant applicants are required to have four GCSE grades A*-C, including English language, a minimum of one year secretarial/clerical experience, including reception work, and use of Microsoft Windows, RSA 1 Word Processing/Typing and experience of handling and banking money. They must also be willing to undergo training.

In order to obtain these qualifications, the prospective employee would have had to attend college and take examinations, only to be then paid exactly the same rate as a cleaner.

Is this fair? And does anyone really want the supply secretary/clerical assistant posts? They are desperately needed as many local government employees are taking sick leave due to stress-related disorders.

So would the council explain why they undervalue such employees and pay them such low rates?

PUZZLED

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