Civil servants give Government “final chance” before strike

Thursday 04 July 2019

Resoundingly rejecting the latest pay offer, civil servants are giving the Government a “final chance” to settle the pay dispute before they restart industrial action.

According to the island's two civil service unions - JCSA Prospect and Unite - the latest Government pay offer has sparked “discontent” amongst civil servants, who voted down the proposals by nearly two thirds.

The latest vote by members of the two unions – referring to themselves under the joint name of ‘Staffside’ – means the civil servants are the last public sector pay group to settle their annual pay arrangements with the States Employment Board (SEB). 

Pictured: The SEB have been warned they have a "final chance" to settle the dispute before industrial action restarts.

Announcing the result following the ballot closing on Monday (1 July), the unions said: “Staffside members have made their intentions clear and we hope the employer will take this final chance to get back to meaningful negotiations to reach a settlement before we continue our program of action.”

In total, 62.4% of members voted against what was put forward as a “final offer”, which proposed giving civil servants more holiday as well as putting a “share arrangement” in place where members would get 50% cuts of savings - if they came up with the cost-cutting ideas themselves.

The initial ballot on the pay offer issued in May was scuppered by confusion over the status of teaching assistants and other civil servants working in education, but the second, complete ballot has returned a resounding rejection for the Government’s latest bid to bring the dispute to a close once and for all. 

Pictured: Civil servants were promised more holidays in the latest offer.

The unions added: “Staffside members are professional people who take pride in providing an efficient and cost-effective service to the people of the Island, but they also expect to be treated with respect and in a professional manner by their employer - the States of Jersey.

They have seen the employer offer improved pay awards to other pay groups whilst they are being left behind.”

Express has contacted the SEB for comment, and is awaiting a response.

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