Civil servants to get 7.9% pay rise after reaching deal with Gov

Wednesday 11 January 2023

Civil servants are due to get a 7.9% pay rise after a ballot of around 3,500 workers saw more than 80% vote in favour.

The rise, which is below the latest inflation figure of 10.4%, came as part of a deal which also included a review of employee terms and conditions.

In a joint statement with Prospect and Unite, States Employment Board Chair Andy Jehan and Government CEO Suzanne Wylie said public sector pay awards were "a careful balance between delivering affordable and sustainable public finances for the taxpayer and recognising the importance of the public sector workers".

The statement continued: "It is recognised by all parties that these are testing times with double-digit inflation, impacting particularly on housing and food costs.

"This agreement will allow staff to receive the new pay levels in their January salaries, which is particularly welcoming in these tough financial times and allows staff to concentrate on their roles delivering services to the island's population."

Other professions have yet to reach an agreement about 2023 pay.

Pictured: The newly reached deal, which is below inflation levels, also included a review of employee terms and conditions.

Teachers have also been offered 7.9%, but had already called for a 15.4% rise, based on the most recently-published inflation figure, plus an additional 5% to cover real-term pay-cuts dating back to 2008.

However, NASUWT's Marina Mauger said she was sceptical that members would find the government's offer acceptable.

"There are huge difficulties in recruiting and retaining teachers, and they will only get worse if teachers' pay falls further behind inflation," she said.

A spokesperson for the Royal College of Nursing said that an offer had been made which would be presented to members, and that no information would be provided until nurses had been given details.

Tom Quinn, Executive Officer of civil servants' union Unite, said on the new deal: "The majority of members have accepted a cut in pay in real terms, but I think this shows how reasonable they are at a time when lots of them are feeling the effects of rises in cost of living."