Police officers narrowly agree 7.9% pay rise

Saturday 14 January 2023

Police officers are due to formally accept an offer of a 7.9% pay rise after a narrow vote.

A total of 166 officers voted in a ballot run by the States of Jersey Police Association (SJPA) this week, with 53% voting to accept the offer from the States Employment Board and 47% voting against.

The rise, which according to SJPA President James Le Cornu is still a "real-terms pay drop of 2.5%", is the same as agreed by civil servants earlier this week.

Members of Prospect and Unite, together representing around 3,500 government employees, voted overwhelmingly in favour of the offer.

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

Pictured: Following the ballot, the SJPA Committee will now write to the States Employment Board to formally accept the offer.

The agreement will allow staff to receive the new pay levels in their January salaries.

Tom Quinn, Executive Officer of Unite, described the offer as "reasonable... at a time when lots of [civil servants] are feeling the effects of rises in cost of living."

Business leader Kevin Keen, however, expressed concerns over whether the rise would apply to those in the top pay bands of the civil service.

He also said that some local businesses may have to consider cutting jobs or other costs if they feel pressure to follow the example of government, as raising prices may not succeed.

"Customers won't be prepared to pay more because they are probably having financial difficulties themselves," he said.

Other public sector professions are yet to reach an agreement over pay.

A spokesperson for the Royal College of Nursing said this week that an offer had been made and presented to members, but declined to provide details.

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.

Pictured: Teachers have called for a 15.4% rise.

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.