Industrial action strikes again

Monday 14 January 2019

Angry civil servants are kicking off more strikes today as the embittered row over public sector pay shows no sign of abating.

With no resolution to the impasse over public sector annual pay increases in sight, Customs Officers and teaching assistants are launching this second round of strikes, with a wider civil servant action planned for tomorrow.

Jersey’s two civil service unions announced their plans for these whole days of strikes last week, when Unite the Union Chairman Nick Corbel told Express that civil servants were “furious” at the way they have been treated by their employer. 

Unite members will be striking alongside their colleagues from JCSA Prospect.

After the two-hour industrial action which took place in Liberation Square in early December, these more sustained strikes mark an escalation of the deadlocked dispute as public sector workers continue to retaliate to being told “there is no more money."

Pictured: The second series of strikes will kick off today after union rep Nick Corbel said civil servants are "furious".

Meanwhile, the Vice-Chairman of the States Employment Board Constable Richard Buchanan says that they “don’t feel any pressure” to elect a new leader in the face of this escalating action amongst other clashes over public sector pay and pension packets.

Customs and Immigration officers will be striking all day and will be joined by teaching assistants between 11:00 and 14:30. A congregation of today’s striking staff organised by the unions is scheduled at Elizabeth Terminal for 12:00.

Due to teaching assistants joining the action, anticipated disruption to schools has been announced – with many of them closing at lunchtime so that they can stay within health and safety limits. 

Pictured: Customs and Immigration officers are amongst the staff members striking today.

In terms of disruption to travel, Condor say that they have been “forced” to alter its schedule after a weekend of cancelled sailings due to inclement weather.

States officials have said that, despite the strikes planned today, there will be “some Customs cover at Jersey’s borders, both air and sea”, which will “include an enhanced Police presence and other contingencies". However, “for operational reasons”, they do not detail what these contingencies consist of.

They also say that the Airport and freight deliveries will “not be affected” and will “operate as normal."

Tomorrow, all remaining civil servants will be striking for the entire day and they have been invited by union reps to gather in the Royal Square where JCSA Prospect General Secretary Mike Clancy will address the crowds at 12:30. 

Pictured: Striking civil servants will be gathering in the Royal Square on Tuesday in retaliation to the "final" pay offer that they say is not in line with the cost of living.

In terms of Tuesday’s action, the States indicate that Pathology labs will be closed all day and therefore islanders have been told “not to drop off specimens at the hospital” tomorrow. Further to this, “all physiotherapy clinics at the General Hospital and at Overdale are cancelled, including some in the Pain Service.”

Regardless of the strike, the States say that “arrangements are in place to deal with emergencies."