Parker’s parody plate goes viral

Thursday 27 December 2018

It may have been a fraught year for States of Jersey employees, but a viral parody post promoting mock ‘Team Jersey’ crockery has helped hundreds to see the funny side of things.

The Readers’ Digest-style ‘offer’ promotes a plate bearing States Chief Executive Charlie Parker’s face under a banner of ‘Team Jersey!’ in order to commemorate the “momentous occasion” of 18 months having passed since the leader joined the States of Jersey.

The satirical description references several key moments from the States Chief’s first year in the top role and phrases associated with Mr Parker’s new ‘One Gov’ regime.

Pictured: The full 'readers offer'-style post.

Stating that the piece is a “limited edition of no more than 800”, a series of bullet points describe the piece as being “hand-polished by the Chief Minister”, featuring a “gold-leaf redacted rim” and a “customer-focused design” and having won “One Gov’s ‘Commemorative Plate of the Year’ Award”.

“This is a limited edition product and orders will be accepted on a purely wh-you-know basis, so don’t delay… go Team Jersey!” it reads.

The Terms and Conditions of the order aren’t free from quips either, with a caveat that the buyer must “declare full allegiance to Team Jersey”.

Pictured: Never forget to read the Ts and Cs...

The post, whose creator remains anonymous, began circulating among past and present senior civil servants before reaching a wider audience when it was posted on social media by other public sector workers – and even one former politician – last week. 

A source told Express that some States workers had even begun using the image as their desktop computer background. 

The light-hearted take on ‘Team Jersey’ – a concept designed to foster a culture of ‘working together’ and break down a pre-existing “silo mentality” in the States – comes following a difficult year for many public sector employees.

Pictured: 'Team Jersey' is the name attached to a major 'culture change' initiative launched by Charlie Parker to combat an apparently pervasive "silo mentality" in the States.

Several took the decision to strike earlier this month in response to below inflation pay rises, and there have been warnings that more could follow in the New Year. 

Meanwhile, a majority of school leaders forming part of the Jersey branch of the National Association of Head Teachers this week voted in favour of strike action.

Leader of the union Sam Cooper said that no firm actions were planned yet as the group wanted to leave the door open to dialogue with the States.