This claim was first made in 1962 and was rejected by the employers' side of the Joint Industrial Council, which at that time comprised the three Service Departments, the Gibraltar Government and the City Council.

The claim was renewed in February of this year, and is still under consideration by the official side of the Joint Industrial Council, which now includes the Ministry of Public Building and Works. No reply has yet been given to the trade union side and it is therefore premature to consider reference to arbitration.