Union battle looms as ministers make final 1% offer

Friday 05 February 2016

Thousands of States workers would get a 1% pay rise this year under a final pay offer by ministers aimed to break the deadlock with unions.

The offer is some way short of the pay deal that unions have been pushing for, and makes the prospect of industrial action over the next few months more likely.

A statement from the ministerial board that makes decisions on pay said that the “final offer” would keep them on target for their cuts plan to save £70 million from the annual public sector pay bill as part of a package to close a £145 million deficit by 2019.

The initial pay offer last April was for a one-year pay freeze for most workers, and a 0.4% rise for nurses and midwives.

The final cuts plans for the next few years to meet the savings target are due to be published shortly.

Chief Minister Ian Gorst said that the offer had been sent to the unions for a response – adding that the offer would enable them to “minimize job losses”.

He said: “In our financial plan for Jersey we are prioritising spending on health, education and infrastructure while balancing our books by 2019.

“This means that we are having to look carefully at the allocation of existing spend and manage the States of Jersey wage bill.”