Teachers' strike to go ahead next week after pay offer is rejected

Thursday 07 December 2023

Strike action by members of one of the main teaching unions will go ahead next week following the rejection of the Government's latest pay offer.

The National Education Union will press ahead with the planned three-day strike, which will begin on Tuesday, after a ballot of members resulted in three-quarters of respondents choosing to reject the offer.

In addition to a 7.9% pay rise for 2023, teachers had been offered an 8% increase from 1 January 2024, a one-off payment of £1,000 on the same date and pay rises matching inflation for 2025 and 2026.

Pictured: Strikes took place in the Royal Square earlier this year.

The strikes will take place on 12, 13 and 14 December.

Caryn Symons, NEU Senior Regional Officer, said: "The current offer simply does not address the real terms pay cut and the issues being experienced in Jersey by the escalating costs of living.

"Our members continue to struggle with their bills and supporting their families. Increases in mortgage rates are adding large sums to monthly outgoings, rent is challenging and debt is continuing to rise for our members. These are real issues for our members and need to be addressed promptly.

"It is disappointing that we remain in the position where our teachers are left with no alternative but to show their disapproval of the offer by withdrawing their labour next week.”

Pictured: "You can't 'put children first', if you put teachers last."

The NEU has already staged strikes earlier in the autumn term, although the most recent action at the start of November was postponed as a gesture of goodwill after schools were forced to close for at least two days because of Storm Ciarán.

The other main teachers union, the NASUWT, is also consulting members on the Government's offer, with the ballot set to run until 15 December.

On Monday the NASUWT confirmed it would suspend the work-to-rule industrial action, started on 27 November, while the ballot was taking place. The action had caused a disruption to normal operation in many schools, with pre-school clubs and other extra-curricular activities being affected.