"Reset" hope as Chief Minister responds to teachers

Thursday 01 February 2024

The new Chief Minister has told teachers who remain at loggerheads with the Government over pay that there is a “genuine desire” to resolve the dispute.

Responding to a call for Government action by one of the two main teaching unions, Deputy Lyndon Farnham expressed the hope that employment relations for teachers could be “reset”.

The National Education Union wrote a strongly-worded to Deputy Elaine Millar, who served as Vice-Chair of the States Employment Board under previous Chief Minister Kristina Moore, earlier this week.

CLICK TO READ IN FULL: A letter from the National Education Union to former Vice-Chair of the States Employment Board, Deputy Elaine Millar.

Deputy Millar was urged by NEU general secretary Rachel Curley to withdraw a letter sent to all teachers on 11 January, in which the Government stated its intention to impose its pay offer on all teachers, unless they specifically responded to decline the offer and to remain in dispute.

The offer to teachers, comprising a 8% pay rise for 2024, a one-off payment of £1,000 and rises equivalent to inflation for 2025 and 2026, was narrowly accepted by members of the NASUWT union in December, but rejected by members of the rival union – the NEU.

In her letter to Deputy Millar, Ms Curley said the NEU did not accept the 11 January letter was lawful, considering that the Government's approach was in breach of Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

NEU members have been advised by their union officials not to respond individually to the Government's letter.

Deputy Farnham, who as Chief Minister is Chair of the SEB, has yet to confirm who will serve as his Vice-Chair. Deputy Millar remains a member of the Council of Ministers, having been confirmed as Treasury Minister this week, but it is not known whether she will retain her SEB role.

Pictured: Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham said that "there is a genuine desire by this Government to resolve the current teachers’ pay dispute".

Deputy Farnham said: "There is a genuine desire by this Government to resolve the current teachers’ pay dispute and reset the workplace relationship so that we can move forward."

Calling for urgent talks with the employer, Ms Curley said the NEU remained willing to negotiate a settlement to the current dispute.

But the NEU official added: "We reserve the right to notify further days of strike action in pursuance of our ongoing trade dispute."

Prior to its members voting to accept the pay offer, the NASUWT had initiated work-to-rule industrial action by its members, while the NEU staged several days of strike action during the autumn term.