States "disrupt" mass union meeting amid pay tensions

Wednesday 10 October 2018

The States have stopped a large-scale union meeting from going ahead in a public building after their request to give a speech was denied.

Due to be held at Hautlieu School on 17 October, the mass public sector worker union meeting, involving civil servants, nurses and teachers, aimed to explore the concerns surrounding the most recent pay deal offered by the States of Jersey.

Since it was unveiled over summer, the deal, which involved a mixture of one-off bonuses and recurring pay rises adjusted for each group of workers, there has been criticism from across the public sector over the fact that many of the rises are too little, too late and do not keep pace with the rate of inflation.

Two unions - the Jersey branch of the Royal College of Nursing and JCSA Prospect, the island's civil servants union - overwhelmingly rejected the proposals. Both ballots saw 95% of workers express their dissatisfaction with the deal.

However, having hit a deadlock with States representatives failing to amend their offer amid months of fraught talks, many unions are warning that strike action may now be inevitable.

Pictured: Nurses said they proposed pay deal left them feeling "demoralised and undervalued".

A rally was planned for all unions to take part to discuss their concerns next week at Hautlieu School - a location previously used for union meetings - but that has now been abruptly cancelled after the States withdrew their permission for the unions to use the space.

Sources told Express that this came after States officials asked to be allocated a slot to speak at the event, which was denied.

It means that the meeting has now been rescheduled to go ahead at the Radisson Blu Hotel on the Waterfront on 25 October, leaving some union members furious that the money spent on holding the meeting will be invested into the private sector, rather than invested back into the public purse.

However, States officials say that the reason they withdrew their offer to use the school hall came due to the threat of industrial action. A spokesperson said: "Unions representing States employees know that they are not permitted to use States buildings for the purposes of organising industrial action, which could be disruptive and harmful to islanders' interests.

"However, we sought to reach a compromise with unions, and asked to allow a representative of the States' senior management to make a brief statement at the meeting, to ensure that employees can hear both sides of the case. Under these circumstances, we offered to allow the meeting to proceed at the school, but the unions have rejected our offer of compromise. As a result, we will enforce the rules which prevent unions from organising industrial action on States premises."

Pictured: Hautlieu School had previously been used as a union meeting place.

The rules stopping strikes from being organised in public buildings were justified under the unions' Framework Agreement with the States. However, Express understands that the document refers to the use of office facilities such as telephones, photocopiers, States-owned computers or departmental notice boards, rather than being a block on all States premises.

Some have suggested that the agreement has deliberately been interpreted differently to stop the meeting from going ahead. States officials declined to provide a copy of the agreement to Express when asked.

Reacting to the news, JCSA Prospect posted on Facebook: "The States of Jersey will not allow a planned all public sector unions meeting to go ahead at Hautlieu School on 17 Oct 2018.

"This attempt to disrupt valid union activity is unfortunate but strengthens our resolve to ensure we are allowed to speak with union members and employees about key employment issues. Indeed this decision should be an incentive for all non-union members to join today."

An industrial action ballot will launch on 26 October.