Chief Minister optimistic for end to States’ pay row

Tuesday 27 September 2016

Chief Minister Ian Gorst says he is convinced there will be an “amicable” settlement to the States’ pay dispute.

States employees last week took part in a ‘lunch-out’ with 800 members of the Prospect union refusing to work during their midday break. Around 200 of them met in the Royal Square last week to highlight their dissatisfaction with the unresolved pay issue.

It was the latest episode in a long-running dispute going back to the start of 2015 which led to a union boss calling States employers “utterly disrespectful.”

The States responded last week by saying that negotiations were still on-going, although Prospect union chief Bob King said that with no pay offer on the table, the next step up in his members’ dispute would be a work-to-rule, followed by the threat of strike action. 

But Chief Minister Gorst, when asked by Deputy Geoff Southern to comment on the row, said he was hoping there is a “framework” for a resolution to take place. 

In yesterday's States sitting, Deputy Southern asked: “Will the Chief Minister inform members whether the States Employment Board (SEB) has refused to accept arbitration to resolve the pay dispute with civil service representatives?”

Chief Minister Gorst said: “States employment officers have met with civil service union representatives at the Jersey Advisory and Conciliation Service. During the meeting the States were asked to go to binding arbitration as a possible outcome of the negotiations. 

“Officers made it clear binding arbitration was not appropriate as the extra cost was not acceptable and might exceed limits that have been set. But there is an agreed framework process for pay negotiations.”

Deputy Southern said this sounded like pay restraint being “forced on employees” and asked if there is a risk that the talks will break down. 

“I hope not,” replied the Chief Minister. “We hope to deliver pay awards within the perimeters we have. 

“There is no doubt the perimeters are challenging, but that’s what members in this assembly want us to do in order to ensure the costs to Government do not increase. 

“But there is a agreed framework process and I hope that will, during 2017, allow us to reach an amicable agreement.”