School strikes loom after decisive education union vote

Monday 14 January 2019

Jersey members of the National Education Union have voted overwhelmingly in favour of striking in response to pay rises out of step with rises in the cost of living.

97.3% of those voting said they were prepared to take action if necessary, which the union said was one of the most decisive ballot results it had encountered across the whole UK in recent years. Turnout was 59.2%.

The NEU, which began balloting in December, said that strikes were likely to take a “rolling” form, with industrial action moving “from school to school”. However, it explained that details were not finalised and would be worked out with other unions.

NEU Regional Secretary Andy Woolley said that the result showed that teachers were “feeling the pressure of years of cumulative below inflation pay rises and a  significant lowering of their standard of living”.

“Along with other public sector workers we are becoming the poor relations of the island’s economy and this is having an effect on both teacher recruitment and retention and on morale of those in post as teachers.”

Mr Woolley added: “A Government that does not value those who provide its essential services to its inhabitants and causes their standard of living to drop year upon year should be ashamed of itself. It does a disservice to both the employees and the general public that they serve.

“As far as teachers are concerned, young people only have one chance at education and, if Jersey is serious about wanting a World class education system as it claims then it needs to pay those who provide a proper living wage that at the very least keeps pace with inflation.  Unfortunately the two year deal only increase salary scales by less than the inflation rate for this year alone.”

Pictured: Industrial action could take the form of rolling strikes from school to school, the union said.

He continued: “We know that, despite various protestations by spokespersons for the States, the money can be found to avoid public sector strikes if the will is there to do so.  We will happily return to the negotiating table if the employer also does so with meaningful proposals but preparation for industrial action in co-ordination with other unions representing public sector workers will now begin.”

The news comes ahead of civil service strike action entering its second day tomorrow.