Police accept government pay offer

Monday 18 March 2019

Members of the States of Jersey Police Association have voted in favour of accepting a new government pay deal.

The union said this afternoon that a vote involving three quarters of its membership had gone 88% in favour of accepting an offer put to them by the States Employment Board amid escalating tensions over wages across the public sector.

The offer involved an increase in line with rises in the cost of living plus 1.3% for 2020, in addition to the previously imposed pay offer for 2018 and 2019.

Pictured: The newest offer bolts on an additional 1.3% plus RPI for 2020 to the previous deal for 2018 and 2019.

In an open letter released this morning, States Members including the Chief Minister and Treasury Minister, had described the offer, which has been put to unions spanning the areas of Education, Health and the Emergency Services, as "fair".

Having announced that the Police were in favour, President of the SOJPA James Le Cornu commented: "This offer promises a real terms pay rise of 1.3% for 2020 and goes some way to offsetting the 3.4% real terms pay cut which our members have suffered for 2018 and 2019."

While members of the Force have given their assent to the deal, members of teachers' unions the NEU and NASUWT received the deal less warmly.

Pictured: Teachers will go on strike against the deal tomorrow (Tuesday).

Both unions voted it down, calling for industrial action. Tomorrow will see the first of their strikes, with teachers due to assemble at Liberation Square in protest in the morning.

Seven secondary schools will have to shut for the day as a result: Grainville, Haute Vallée, Le Rocquier, Les Quennevais, Hautlieu, JCG and Victoria College.