06 October 2023
Representatives of the States Employment Board (SEB) met with teaching unions to seek to resolve the current dispute for the pay award in 2023 on Wednesday.
The SEB have once again offered to attend binding arbitration talks, facilitated by a wholly independent person. We believe this is the only route available to resolve the long-standing dispute. The trade unions have rejected this offer again.
Given most public service employees have accepted the 7.9% (consolidated), without dispute, the SEB believe that the offer on the table is fair and reasonable.
Teachers have now received an uplift of 7.9% consolidated pay in August, and a backdated amount to 1 January 2023 in the September pay run.
Having rejected the offer of binding arbitration, the trade unions have effectively closed the door to the resolution of the dispute in 2023.
Talks for 2024, and the potential of a multi-year pay settlement, will begin this month.
Connétable Andy Jehan, Vice Chair of the States Employment Board, said: "We had hoped that we could reach a conclusion to the dispute but that does not seem to be the case. We were prepared to put our case to an independent person through 'binding arbitration' and be bound by their determination, having put forward a fair and reasonable offer.
"I know there are many teachers who want to just get on with the job without disruption, and I am equally sorry that continued industrial action impacts them as well."
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