29th January 2013, 11:50 PM
While we may debate the actual levels in the Grade system, I cannot see a problem with the existing idea of defined grades of responsibility that can attract better pay. Now, there is an argument for a "parallel" experience-based set of pay levels so that (for example) long-serving diggers can be rewarded for their skills and knowledge at their tasks without having to move up to management grade, but there is no need to drop everyone's pay down to the same shamefully low level that the employers might prefer. It may be tempting to follow where the IFA is (possibly) leading, but you'll feel rather grubby about it in the morning!