Unless otherwise provided in this article, each merit system officer or employee in a classified position affected by this article shall be entitled to all rights which he possessed as a merit system officer or employee in a classified position before March 13, 1975, including all rights of rank or grade, rights to vacation, sick pay and leave, payment for accumulated annual leave, rights under any retirement or personnel plan, and any other rights under any law or administrative policy. This Code section is not intended to create any new rights for any merit system officer or employee but to continue only those rights in effect before March 13, 1975.