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Staff Consultative Committee - an example of management double-speak

The latest EBS from HRO states that to improve the consultation process the two Staff Association Executive Committee members on the committee will now be replaced by two Senate members. Putting aside the fact that Senate is supposed to be an academic advisory body, and the SCC deals with Terms and Conditions of Service etc, we all know that nearly 80% of Senate is ex-officio or appointed, and these 80% all owe their positions to the President. Whereas the SA representatives were elected by all staff. What double-speak comes from the lackeys at HRO.

For the past 6 years the SCC has had its role gradually diminished. It was originally set up to discuss management proposals that affected the terms and conditions of service, accommodation etc - all subjects that would affect the day-to-day lives of the staff - but not academic affairs - although performance based pay, appraisal etc would of course involve some academic matters.

20 years ago all these things were discussed with staff BEFORE they went to Management Board. 6 years ago SCC started to get proposals AFTER they had been to Management Board but before they went to Council. Recently SCC only got to discuss proposals after they went to Council Executive Committee or other Council committees - by which time it was usually too late to change anything - and a situation which gave new meaning the the word “Consultative”. The effect of all this was to make SCC effectively impotent and a waste of time. Some of the proposals that were presented were even against the laws of Hong Kong and had to be rapidly revised before they went to Council. One questions what illegalities will be approved in future with elected staff in small minority. Before the new changes elected staff made up 4 out of the 6 members; now that has been reduced to 2, with the Senate members electing themselves as a Functional Constituency with a small circle election., As these proposals must have come from the very top, one wonders what is in store for Hong Kong if the Council Chair is selected as the next Chief Executive. It does not look good for the extension of democracy in Hong Kong if it is being curtailed so much in CityU.

This is just another step in trying to isolate the Staff Association. First the Executive Committee was threatened by the Secretary to Council, and the Chief Administrative Officer. Then access to the EBS system was taken away. And now the SA representation on University committees is also being removed. Last semester the SA representatives on SCC asked for it to be in the loop at an earlier stage of the consultation process - the latest decision - again not even discussed by the SCC - shows the contempt that senior management has for ordinary members of staff. They will only allow people onto these committees that are yes-men - people who owe their jobs to the management and who are not likely to say no - or represent you or me.

Something needs to be done.

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