Chief Minister apologises for controversial social media post

Tuesday 12 September 2023

The Chief Minister has apologised for a controversial Government social media post, admitting that the Facebook post “resulted in unnecessary escalation in tensions” with teaching unions.

Teachers and headteachers from two unions – the NEU and the NAHT – are taking strike action today, accusing the Government of reversing on a promise to make a backdated pay award of 7.9% for 2023 as an interim move while negotiations over rectifying what they describe as a real-terms pay cut over 15 years continue.

NASUWT, a third union, pulled out of the strikes on Monday after "encouraging" talks with Government – but they are still working to rule.

Pictured: The controversial social media post has since been deleted from the Government's Facebook page.

Last week, the Government was accused of deliberately whipping up division on social media over the teacher strikes following a controversial Facebook post – which has since been deleted.

Assistant Chief Minister and Constable of St John Andy Jehan, who leads pay negotiations, was slammed by a union leader for comments described as "inflammatory", "ignorant" and "very insulting" to teachers.

Comments from Constable Jehan that the Government's position was "not unreasonable" were accompanied by a number of "teacher strike facts", including the average Jersey teacher salary and pension scheme details.

Pictured: Assistant Chief Minister Constable Andy Jehan is also Vice-Chair of the States Employment Board, the official employer of all public sector workers.

Now, under scrutiny from Reform Jersey Deputy Sam Mezec in today's States Assembly, the Chief Minister said that she was "deeply disappointed" by the social media post and said that the information "shouldn't have be used on social media at the time or in the way it was".

Deputy Moore, who is also Chair of the States Employment Board, said: "I regret that the social media post was not specifically authorised or approved by a minister when published on Facebook.

"The information had been used earlier that day and sent to media outlets and approved for those purposes alone, we therefore considered that the information was accurate but it shouldn't have be used on social media at the time or in the way it was."

Pictured: The Chief Minister said that she was "deeply disappointed" by the social media post.

She continued: "We all get things wrong, and when we do it's important to be clear, honest and open.

"I apologise for this particularly at a time when the SEB was involved in direct and constructive talks with the union and I accept that this resulted in an unnecessary escalation in tensions. Myself and the Vice Chair were deeply disappointed by social media post."

Deputy Moore also expressed her "regret" and "disappointment" in this morning's States Assembling sitting that schools are closed for the second time this year due to strike action – while teachers looked on from the gallery.

She added: "I am disappointed that schools are closed, children are missing out on education, and that family life is disrupted, which has an impact on productivity and our economy."

In response to questions on what action had been taken to prevent the strikes from Deputy Lyndsay Feltham, Deputy Moore said: "The SEB has authorised its officers to continue in discussions for resolution of the pay dispute with school leaders and Government.

"Throughout the dispute period, we have offered conciliation talks facilitated by JACS and we continue to offer arbitration with an independent third party."

Pictured: As the States Assembly sitting continues inside the States Chamber, striking teachers gather in protest in the Royal Square outside.

After a meeting on Friday night, she said, NASUWT pulled out of the strikes, but "NEU did not agree to terms of withdrawing strike action and were offered arbitration. Again, they said no, referring to a recent case in Guernsey where this was settled by a tribunal."

She further said that the NAHT received a "revised offer" which was "amended but rejected yesterday afternoon at a meeting that half of their membership attended."

The Chief Minister added that there was a "financial envelope in which we have to find a way forward".

"We need to balance the books for the public purse alongside meeting the requirements for our staff," she explained.

"We also have an inflation issue and it's part of our duty as the Government to take a view on inflation and drive down inflation so that we can support islanders through the cost of living with all of the levers that we have available to us, which are rather limited.

"It would be unwise of us to unleash that part of our responsibilities simply to placate one group of greatly valued public service and we have to consider how we continue to balance everything so that move forward and keep everything moving as best as we can."

Further strikes are schedule for 18 and 19 October.