"Progress made" in States pay dispute

Thursday 17 January 2019

"Progress has been made" towards resolving the ongoing States pay dispute, the President of Jersey's largest civil service union has announced.

Ongoing tensions over pay rises for States workers failing to meet increases in the cost of living exploded into strike action this week.

The widespread industrial action, which involved hundreds of employees, resulted in a meeting between representatives from union JCSA Prospect, including General Secretary Mike Clancy, Chief Executive Charlie Parker and the Chief Minster, Senator John Le Fondré on Tuesday afternoon.

Video: The civil servants strike as it unfolded on Tuesday.

President of the union, Terry Renouf, has now released a statement describing the meeting as an apparent success, with "progress" said to have been made towards "reaching a resolution to the current industrial dispute", with both sides having now agreed to mediation through the Jersey Advisory Conciliation Service (JACS).

It will involve a series of meetings, without preconditions, which the States say they hope will facilitate "meaningful negotiations... for a defined, focused period" in order to end the months-long friction "by agreement".

Mr Renouf commented: "We are pleased that the employer has finally agreed to meet to discuss a resolution as Unions have always been open to talks which are going to be meaningful and which will seek to reach a solution to the current position.

"We thank JACS for their participation in this and remain committed to working to reach a sensible and reasonable outcome."

Pictured: Vice President and President of JCSA Prospect, Mick Robbins and Terry Renouf.

Senator Le Fondré added that the States "welcome the progress made, and look forward to productive discussions with our union colleagues".

It comes after seven politicians - including a senior minister - yesterday issued an urgent call for a resolution to the bitter row.

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