“States cuts plan will lead to teacher recruitment crisis” - union

Friday 17 July 2015

Pay freezes for States staff will make it harder for schools to attract and retain top quality teachers to Jersey, a union has warned.

The backlash from public sector unions to proposals to tackle the £145 million deficit has begun, with the NASUWT – which represents the vast majority of teachers in the Island – saying that the planned pay freeze “will have serious implications for the continuing provision of high-quality education”.

National staff from the union’s UK headquarters will be reviewing the next steps, and the NASUWT say that they are canvassing members’ views before deciding their next steps.

Chris Keates, the General Secretary of the NASUWT, said that they put forward alternatives to the pay freeze proposal, but that they were ignored.

She said: “It is clear that the States’ Medium Term Financial Plan will put the burden of cuts and tax rises disproportionately on the shoulders of ordinary working people, including public sector workers, while corporations and the better off will be virtually unaffected.

“To impose a pay freeze on those delivering vital services when changes to the tax system that are favourable to businesses have contributed significantly to the current financial situation is profoundly unjust.

“The NASUWT represents the overwhelming majority of teachers in Jersey and our National Officers will now be considering the Union’s next steps in the light of the pay freeze announcement.”