Labour Relations Act, 1995 (Act No. 66 of 1995)NoticesBargaining Council for the Metal and Engineering IndustriesMain Collective AgreementPart 25. AnnexuresAnnexure CThe Skills Definitions Accompanying the new Five-Grade Structure |
The prime objective of the proposed definitions is to move from the current individual task descriptions to one which defines an employee’s area and scope of work in terms of competently held skills. In other words, at the end of the restructuring period the only restriction on any employee’s work is whether he or she is formally skilled to carry out a particular task. This situation currently only exists with artisans who can be legally asked to carry out any task that lies within their discipline.
The position cannot be achieved overnight, for a number of reasons. Firstly, it will take a few years to reorganise the training infrastructure to provide for standardised modular training at all levels of the new career structure. Even if such modules were available it would not be economically feasible to bring all engineering employees up to the levels of formal skill required by the grade in which they have been placed by virtue of the current wage level. Finally, it will take a considerable period of ‘cultural’ adjustment for the industry to understand the new system and take maximum productivity advantage of it.
For these reasons, it is essential that the parties see the foreseeable future (i. e. until the new industry training framework is in place) as a period of transition where it will be necessary, because of the diversity of the industry, to live in both the new and old worlds. The definitions proposed below deal with this transition by providing some broad guidelines as to the work performed by employees at each level. It is for this reason that both a skill definition and a general scope of work definition appear at each level.
Workers will not be expected to be able to perform all of the indicative tasks in a particular grade to qualify as workers in that grade. Which particular tasks workers will be required to perform is a matter for discussion between management and workers and this will be one of the determining factors in deciding whether or not the establishment will adopt the new five-grade system.
In order to fully utilise manpower resources, all employees will perform work within their skills and capabilities. To this end, employees will accept any necessary training and be prepared, after consultation, to perform tasks within their grade as the needs of the operation require.
The requirements specified under each grade in this document will be revised and amended in line with the requirements of the to-be-agreed national training framework on an ongoing basis.
Definition of terms used in these levels
Where the expression ‘formally competent in X modules’ appears, this shall mean the employee has completed training modules that are recognised by the Metal and Engineering Industry Education and Training Board and, where applicable, the Plastics Industry Training Board to the specified competency standard.
The indicative tasks associated with each of the five grades will be used by the parties and the Technical Work Group in restructuring the current Main Agreement technical operations into five grades. However, specific operations that include these indicative tasks may, by agreement of the parties at central level, be graded into either a higher or lower grade, dependent upon particular circumstances. Where agreement cannot be reached by the parties on the grading of particular operations the matter will be referred to an agreed arbitrator who will decide the matter on the basis of the skill definitions and indicative tasks contained in this document, taking into account any particular circumstances that may apply. The definitions will require examination to ensure that they conform with occupational health and safety legislation and relevant licensing arrangements.
The new skill definitions of the five-grade job structure are set out below. During the period September 1996 to January 1997 all the current job descriptions of the Main Agreement will be reclassified into five grades for utilisation by those companies where the new five-grade structure is to be implemented.
GRADE 1
An employee at this level will undergo an induction training period, including occupational health and safety, and perform duties that are essentially of a manual and/or repetitive nature. Minimal skill, discretion and judgement is required as set procedures generally apply and the employee works mainly under direct supervision. He or she has no supervisory responsibility.
Employees will not be expected to undertake all of the following indicative tasks to qualify as a Grade 1 worker. Which particular tasks employees will be required to perform at this level is a matter for discussion between management and the affected employee(s). These tasks should, within reason and subject to current operational practices, not be in unrelated areas.
Indicative tasks
The following indicative tasks apply to this grade:
| • | Operation of automatic machines requiring no setting beyond the location of material and running the machine. Able to carry out basic pre-start machine inspection and lubrication. |
Operation of machines where such operation is limited to loading, setting the machine in motion, stopping and unloading the machine.
| • | Drilling to jigs, fixtures, stops, templets or dimples. |
| • | Operating automatic submerged arc or gas shielded wire or flux cored wire arc welding machines (excluding setting up), butt, flash, projection, resistance or spot or arc spot or seam stud welding machine. |
| • | Cutting to pre-set stops, grinding and/or deburring. |
| • | Assembly of pre-manufactured components from stock requiring no interpretation or adjustments, but including deburring. |
| • | Identification of different products and materials used in the product process of the plant in the area in which the employee works. |
| • | The use of basic measurement tools such as a rule, tape, slip and ‘no-go’ gauges, etc. |
| • | Write labels, weigh and record. |
| • | Operate basic materials handling equipment such as pallet truck and mechanical and fixed pendant hoists. |
| • | Packing, stocking, loading, unloading and cleaning duties in tool and/or stock and/or materials stores directly linked to the shopfloor and/or production process. |
| • | Operating plastic production machines, including running adjustments. |
| • | General labouring and cleaning duties, including removal of rust or coating and boiler cleaning and oiling and greasing on non-operating machinery. |
GRADE 2
An employee at this level is formally competent in ‘x’ modules and carries out work within the area and scope of this training; or is required to exercise a limited degree of discretion and judgement that may become virtually automatic with practical experience. The employee—
| 1. | works under direct supervision or functions as a member of a work team; |
| 2. | understands and utilises basic statistical process control procedures, including the measurement of output specifications; and |
| 3. | consistently meets the production and quality standards set for activities at this level. |
Employees will not be expected to undertake all of the following indicative tasks to qualify as a Grade 2 worker. Which particular tasks employees will be required to undertake at this level is a matter for discussion between management and the affected employee(s). These tasks should, within reason and subject to current operational practices, not be in unrelated areas.
Indicative tasks
The following indicative tasks apply to this grade:
| • | Repetition work on semi-automatic or single purpose machines or equipment, including adjustment of material or tools within clearly defined limits. |
| • | Assembles components using basic written, spoken and/or diagrammatic instruction in a mass production assembly environment, including mechanical adjustment and the identification of parts and their location. |
| • | Basic gas welding skills not involving codes, or oxyacetylene cutting of scrap. |
| • | Hand-welding by mechanically fed electrodes or preliminary welding or welding in fixtures (and completion of weld when removed from the fixture.) |
| • | Operation of pre-set machines, including random checking with fixed gauges and replacement of tipped tooling. |
| • | Use of measurement equipment related to the functions of this grade. |
| • | Use of power-driven materials handling equipment such as a floor-operated crane, forklift and stacker (relevant license to be held where applicable). |
| • | Use of computer to input data, produce reports and maintain database. |
| • | Receiving locating preparing and issuing materials, tools and/or stock from requisition lists, in tool and/or stock and/or materials stores directly linked to the shopfloor and/or production process, including— |
– picking of stock;
– checking and recording of stock; and
– operation of materials and handling equipment.
GRADE 3
An employee at this level is formally competent in ‘x’ modules and carries out work within the scope of this training; or is required to exercise a considerable degree of discretion and judgement and demonstrate a basic analytical ability. The employee—
| 1. | works under routine supervision or functions as a member of a work team; |
| 2. | understands and can interpret statistical process control procedures, including the measurement of output specifications and the plotting of charts; and |
| 3. | consistently meets the production and quality standards set for activities at this level. |
Employees will not be expected to undertake all of the following indicative tasks to qualify as a Grade 3 worker. Which particular tasks employees will be required to undertake at this level is a matter for discussion between management and the affected employee(s). These tasks should, within reason and subject to current operational practices, not be in unrelated areas.
Indicative tasks
The following indicative tasks apply to this grade:
| • | Use of drawings and written instructions to set up machines or installation of programs in the case of numerically controlled machines. |
| • | Complex assembly of components or sub-assemblies that may require routine adjustment. |
| • | Basic fault-finding, basic service and lubrication on machines or products with which the employee is familiar in line with maintenance and/or quality schedules. |
| • | Use of keyboard or hard copy to compile statistics and records of activities up to this grade. |
| • | Ability to measure accurately, including the use of precision-measuring instruments normally used in the particular work area. |
| • | Down hand ferrous welding in a finished run. |
| • | Operation of multi-head oxyacetylene cutting, profiling, flame planning or bevel cutting machine. |
| • | Setting of plastic production machines. |
GRADE 4
An employee at this level is formally competent in ‘x’ modules and carries out work within the area and scope of this training; or has the knowledge and skill to perform autonomous, non-routine tasks of some complexity and is required to exercise analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills and exercise judgment acquired after considerable practice and experience.
The employee—
| 1. | works from complex instructions and procedures and can generate reports in a fixed format on activities up to level four when required; |
| 2. | may assist in the provision of on-the-job-training; |
| 3. | works under or functions as a leader of a work team, and plans and organises activity in his or her immediate area of work; |
| 4. | consistently meets the production and quality standards set for activities at this level; and |
| 5. | uses tools and equipment within the scope of his or her training or competency. |
Employees will not be expected to undertake all of the following indicative tasks to qualify as a Grade 4 worker. Which particular tasks employees will be required to undertake at this level is a matter for discussion between management and the affected employee(s). These tasks should, within reason and subject to current operational practices, not be in unrelated areas.
Indicative tasks
The following indicative tasks apply to this grade:
| • | Measure and monitor production output and quality standards within a set area or plant with available resources and equipment. |
| • | Machinist’s work, including setting up and grinding own tools and maintaining a limited number of machines in terms of their operation and basic service (excluding toolroom). |
| • | Marking and setting out. |
| • | Using a computer to construct simple graphs and spreadsheets. |
| • | Inventory and store control, including supervision of Grade 2 employees in tool and/or stock and/or material stores directly linked to the shopfloor and/or production process. |
GRADE 5
An employee at this level is formally competent in ‘x’ modules and carries out work within the area and scope of this training; or is normally a qualified artisan (or the equivalent thereof) who is able to exercise the skills and knowledge of a trade. He or she—
| 1. | understands and applies quality control techniques; |
| 2. | exercises good interpersonal and communication skills; |
| 3. | exercises discretion within the scope of this grade; |
| 4. | works under plant level supervision or a part of a team; |
| 5. | performs non-artisan tasks incidental and peripheral to his or her work, including the operation of materials handling equipment and the cleaning of work areas. |
GRADING OF SUPERVISORS
Supervisors will be graded in the grade immediately above that of the employees whom they supervise.
Notes:
| 1. | In due course it will be necessary to develop further criteria for production employees who operate at an equivalent level to the qualified artisan, i.e. Grade 5. |
| 2. | The tasks listed above are merely given as an initial guide as to the types of task that are general characteristics of that particular grade. |
| 3. | Employees in any given grade may also be required to undertake work in lower grades. |
| 4. | The parties will consider the introduction of a sixth and seventh grade (above Rate A/Grade 5) during the course of the 1997/98 Main Agreement. |