Save the PO grade in Supply Chain

[MinisterofCucumber]

Several managers have told me that the PO grade is being phased out. I don't know if this has been agreed with the Union.

Surplus POs will retain their pay because basic pay is protected 'in perpetuity' according to the MTSF agreement. However, a lot of POs will not be happy if they are forced to go back to doing PA work.

Management argue that there is no difference between PO and PA work. Over the years, management have created situations to provide evidence for this argument:

- POs have been given PA duty overtime despite the extra cost.

- PAs have been trained on PO duties to be used as substitutes. A PO earns about £73 more than a PA does per week. However, when a PA substitutes for a PO, they are only paid about £25 extra.

The Substitution Policy states that substitutes get paid the starting pay of the grade they are substituting. For some reason, The PO starting rate is lower than the PA maximum rate. Is there an agreement on what percentage of the maximum a starting rate of pay must be?