20 January 2009
The States Employment Board has declined a request for arbitration on the 2008/9 pay award made by the trade union, Unite, on behalf of the States and Parish Manual Workers.
The decision not to accept the request was made in the light of increasing demands on States funds at a time when the Council of Ministers is committed to cutting States spending.
The chair of the States Employment Board, Senator Terry Le Sueur, said: -
“This inflation award, effective from June last year, is very fair, especially in the current economic climate which is already having an impact on jobs and pay in the private sector. If we were to agree a higher than inflation pay rise, it would ultimately be funded by tax payers, some of whose own jobs are at risk.
Some 3000 States employees have already accepted this pay award and we are satisfied we offer our workforce, in the main, very competitive pay and conditions.
We cannot afford to raid the coffers to give above inflation pay rises, and are maintaining our offer of 3.2%”
The offer of 3.2% is matches the RPI for March last year, the quarter used historically for pay negotiations in the public sector, and is consistent with States Policy as set out in the Business Plan.
Four pay groups, representing around 3000 public employees, have accepted an award of 3.2%. They are - civil servants, police officers, prison officers, head and deputy head teachers. Manual workers, nurses, fire-fighters, teachers and paramedics have yet to settle.
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Notes to Editors: For further information, please contact Senator Le Sueur on 440439
gov.je