Nurses union pay ballot declared 'void'

Tuesday 02 April 2019

A nurses union ballot over whether to accept the government's latest pay offer has been declared 'void'.

The Jersey Nursing Association (JNA) had expected to release its results on Friday at the same time as the Royal College of Nursing (RCN).

Alongside members of the civil service and teachers, nurses were being asked to approve a revised pay rise offer of 1.3% plus inflation in 2020.

While RCN announced that its members would be accepting the offer - approved by 75% on a turnout of around half the union's members - the validity of the JNA's result was thrown into doubt. 

They then postponed its release to Monday, but yesterday said that the results had been voided because of incorrect information given out with the ballot.

A new ballot will now be sent to JNA members this week.

Meanwhile, the frustration of key teahers' union NASUWT continues to grow, following a strike last week on the day that States Members voted down a plan to release funds for pay rises spanning 2018 to 2020 across the public sector in line with rises in the cost of living.

Yesterday, the union said that its members had no intention of slowing its protest efforts. It said that teachers would now refuse to cover classes for absent members.

Ms Chris Keates, NASUWT General Secretary, said that teachers were "deeply angry and frustrated" that the States Employment Board (SEB) hadn't changed tack amid protests, adding: "In the absence of progress towards a resolution of the pay dispute then they have no choice but to step up industrial action."

Video: Teachers rallying in the Royal Square last Tuesday.

She continued: "A meeting is scheduled to take place with the SEB negotiators today [Monday, ed]. The NASUWT will engage constructively in that meeting and if good progress can be made then there will be no need for an escalation of industrial action next term."

"However, if the SEB remains intransigent and does not engage positively then further action cannot be avoided and the Union's National Action Committee will have no choice but to proceed with the no cover ban and to consider further action including considering a rolling programme of strikes."