'No confidence' vote cancelled

Friday 31 May 2019

A vote of 'no confidence' in the political team responsible for negotiating public sector workers' pay due next week has been cancelled.

Deputy Geoff Southern brought the proposals against the States Employment Board (SEB) last week.

Describing Jersey as being "in crisis", he says the move comes in reaction to the group's inability to resolve the months' long battle over cost-of-living pay rises with public sector workers, which has resulted in strikes from civil servants and teachers.

He lost his Assistant Ministerial role as a result, with his senior minister, Deputy Judy Martin, who has political responsibility for Social Security, stating that it was inappropriate for him to remain in office while bringing proposals against the government.

This afternoon, however, Deputy Southern withdrew his proposition.

Deputy Southern has today withdrawn his proposition for a vote of no confidence in the States Employment Board, so it will not now be debated next week.

— States Assembly (@StatesAssembly) May 31, 2019

It comes after civil servants were given a revised pay offer by the SEB, including more holidays - but longer hours - and a potential savings sharing agreement.

In a statement following the withdrawal, Deputy Southern said that it came in response to the new proposed pay deal.

He explained that, while he believed it was "useful in bringing SEB back to the negotiation table, its divisive nature is no longer useful to progress."

Statement pic.twitter.com/NqOYLW6xNh

— Reform Jersey (@ReformJersey) May 31, 2019

Describing the original 'no confidence' vote as "an unnecessary distraction to the SEB and its negotiators at this critical time", Chief Minister Senator John Le Fondré reaffirmed his own confidence in the SEB following the proposition's withdrawal.

"The SEB has never left the negotiating table and indeed meetings have been taking place before and during the lodging of the Deputy’s proposition, including today.  It is important for people to understand that the negotiation/mediation which is taking place under the auspices of JACS is subject to confidentiality arrangements, and misguided propositions such as this are liable to disrupt negotiations unnecessarily," he commented.

Express has asked if Deputy Southern will be re-offered his Ministerial role and is awaiting a response.