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Politicians were heckled with chants of 'Save Our Schools' from protesting teachers as they exited the States Chamber this afternoon.
Carrying protest placards and waving flags stating 'Pay Up', members of the National Education Union packed into the States Chamber before staging a protest in the Royal Square on the second day of a three-day walkout in a long-running pay dispute.
WATCH: Teachers protesting outside the States Chamber today.
In addition to a 7.9% rise which was applied and backdated to January, teachers have been offered an 8% increase on 1 January 2024, a £1,000 lump sum on the same date and inflation-matched rises for 2025 and 2026.
NASUWT members are balloting on the offer, while NEU members have rejected it.
Vice-Chair of the States Employment Board Deputy Elaine Millar and Minister for Children and Education Deputy Inna Gardiner published an open letter entitled 'A message about strike action by the National Education Union' in yesterday's JEP.
In the full-page advert, the Government said that it had made an offer that was “fair to teachers and affordable for Jersey”.
Responding to the letter on social media, the Jersey NEU said that "incorrect statistics have been quoted" and claimed that the "SEB have cancelled numerous meetings and rescheduled at the last minute".
Inside the States Assembly this morning, Members debated whether to increase investment in Children, Young People, Education & Skills frontline services by £2million, instead of spending the money on the Modernisation and Digital department.
.@DeputyCCurtis is proposing an amendment to the #GovPlan to increase investment in Children, Young People, Education & Skills frontline services by £2 million, instead of it being used for the Modernisation and Digital department.
— States Assembly - Jersey's elected parliament (@StatesAssembly) December 13, 2023
Read more: https://t.co/GMZhOkX4vl pic.twitter.com/jybDKnhzIt
Teachers sat in the public gallery to watch the debate, which will continue after lunch.
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