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Teachers are being asked to vote on a new pay offer from government, which would see them guaranteed pay rises each year until 2026 and awarded a one-off payment of £1,000.
The offer, which has been put to members of both NASUWT and the NEU, aims to put an end a row that has been rumbling for the past year.
Both unions will be surveying members to establish whether they want to accept the proposed new deal, which has arisen out of crunch talks with the States Employment Board in recent days.
Members of the NASUWT had withdrawn from all activities outside of normal timetabled lessons. NASUWT members have been instructed not to attend meetings or briefings at either end of the core school day, except where arrangements for time off in lieu has been confirmed in advance.
The union confirmed this afternoon that members had agreed to suspend their work-to-rule industrial action with effect from tomorrow morning (Tuesday) while a ballot takes place.
In addition to the 7.9% pay increase for 2023 afforded to all public sector workers, teachers have been offered a further 8% rise with effect from 1 January 2024, a one-off payment of £1,000 on the same date, and pay increases for 2025 and 2026 equivalent to the rate of inflation.
It comes after teachers rejected a one-off payment of £1,000 at the end of last month which had been offered in return for ending the dispute and agreeing to give 20 days' notice before any other industrial action. At the time, Education Minister Inna Gardiner said that NASUWT members were "causing harm to parents, children, and teachers".
It's understood that the latest offer is conditional on teachers' providing double the minimum notice to their employer of any future strike action, from seven to 14 days.
Deputy Elaine Millar, Vice-Chair of the States Employment Board (SEB), which is the official employer of all public sector workers, commented: "A pay offer for 2024, 2025 and 2026 has been made to the NASUWT and the NEU."
Pictured: Social Security Minister Elaine Millar has taken over as Vice-Chair of the SEB following the shock resignation of Constable Andy Jehan.
She continued: "The NASUWT have confirmed that they are prepared to withdraw the action short of strike action to enable the union to consult with members on the latest offer from the employer on a without prejudice basis. We are waiting for the NEU to confirm to the States Employment Board that they will put the latest offer to their members.
"Pay negotiations are private and confidential, we are therefore unable to provide details of the pay offer at this time."
Negotiating secretary Marina Mauger said there was no recommendation from NASUWT leaders to members – it would be a matter of members giving their views in a ballot due to close on 15 December, she said.
"We have made significant progress, and I am encouraged – now it's up to our members," she said. "We are also continuing the talks about new terms and conditions, and have made good progress there."
The NEU, the other main teaching union, has also confirmed that it is initiating a ballot of members regarding the new offer.
Caryn Symons, NEU senior regional officer, said that as things stood the three days of strike action called by members for 12 to 14 December were still scheduled to go ahead, with an update to follow later this week after members had been consulted.
Video: Sam Wharmby, Joint Branch and District Secretary for NEU Jersey, launching the protest over pay back in July.
The States Employment Board made a 7.9% offer to all public sector workers for 2023, gradually gaining acceptance from the different employee groups.
Members of the Jersey branch of headteachers' union NAHT had previously joined their school colleagues in rallying against the original pay offer. However, it was later accepted by headteachers after one-off payments worth up to £3,000, depending on seniority, were added – a move which angered rank-and-file teachers as their dispute rumbled on.
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