Some advice on employment negotiations?

Hi all,

Probably looking for advice of someone with more experience in employment/contract negotiations than I have.

I have some previous health issues and was employed part-time (20-30) hours a week for the last 7 years. I've since been asked to assist a separate department on a close to full time basis. This assistance is in a role that would be considered financial admin, and would therefore be on an admin salary scale within the organisation. I have a permanent contract with the organisation and am enrolled in the pension scheme and all benefits that entails.

However, as I am employed on an hourly basis in my original role, i'm currently paid hourly for my new role that would normally be occupied by someone on the admin salary scale, so I'm being paid significantly less than other people in the new department. I've now been in the new role since last October.

I actually really enjoy the new role, and the head of department wants to keep me on, which we've talked about at length and they would have no problem backing me for a new contract.

What I'm curious about is will my previous employment be counted towards what rung on the scale I will go in at? I've essentially been employed as receptionist/evening receptionist for the last 10 years in the same organisation, and now I would be working in a financial admin role. Will I start at the start of the new admin scale, or should I be asking for a certain amount of my previous years employment in another role to count towards my progression on the admin scale?