Southern sacked over 'no confidence' vote

Thursday 23 May 2019

A Deputy has been sacked from his position as Assistant Minister after bringing a vote of no confidence against the board responsible for setting government employees' pay amid an ongoing dispute.

Deputy Geoff Southern, Assistant Minister for Social Security, brought the proposals against the States Employment Board (SEB) on Tuesday afternoon.

Describing Jersey as being "in crisis", he said the move came in reaction to the group's inability to resolve the months' long battle over cost-of-living pay rises with public sector workers, which has resulted in strikes from civil servants and teachers.

Pictured: Social Security Minister Judy Martin, who dismissed Deputy Southern as her Assistant Minister.

Yesterday, the Chief Minister hit back at Deputy Southern's proposals, describing them as "completely unjustified and totally unnecessary" because he said progress on the public sector pay dispute was happening, with a solution for teachers expected by mid-June.

This morning, the backlash against Deputy Southern continued, with the Minister for Social Security, Deputy Judy Martin, ousting him from Ministerial office after he refused to resign from his role.

She commented: “When Deputy Southern proposed a vote of no confidence in the States Employment Board I regretfully asked the Deputy to resign from his position as my Assistant Minister, as a vote of no confidence is a very serious matter. Senator Le Fondre has made a point of accepting a range of views in Government, and has chosen not to operate under collective responsibility. However, In my view, it is not compatible to occupy the role of Assistant Minister in a government while also proposing a vote of no confidence in the work of an integral part of that government.

“As Deputy Southern has declined my request for his resignation, I have no other option but to dismiss him as my Assistant Minister. This is effective immediately.”

Pictured: The 'no confidence' vote in the SEB is scheduled for 4 June.

In a statement released this afternoon, Deputy Southern's party, Reform Jersey, explained that he had refused to resign because he believed his actions in bringing the 'no confidence' vote to be "in line with his election promise."

The party subsequently urgently called on the SEB to double its efforts to reach a public sector-wide resolution to the current impasse over pay.

The full statement read:

“Over recent months, Deputy Southern has worked tirelessly to present the States Assembly with proposals to prevent the public sector pay dispute from getting worse and to provide a pathway for meaningful negotiations and the prospect of a fair pay deal.

"On two occasions the States Assembly has rejected propositions from Deputy Southern which offered a constructive way forward, and instead the Assembly chose to take a hard nosed approach, which has now led to unprecedented strike action from Jersey's teachers and is causing disruption to many working family's lives.

"Deputy Southern regrettably felt that as the situation had reached crisis point, a vote of no confidence in the States Employment Board remained the only option to force action which will resolve this crisis.

"He was asked to resign as an Assistant Minister for Social Security, but declined to do so on the basis that he believed his actions were in line with his election promise to support our public services and fight for an improved standard of living for all. He has subsequently been dismissed by the Social Security Minister.

"Reform Jersey calls on the SEB to take the necessary action to expedite their efforts to reach an agreement with the teachers representatives which will de-escalated industrial action and address their concerns on pay and conditions.”

Following Reform Jersey's statement, the National Education Union (NEU) - whose members opted to strike for three days this week, forcing the partial closure of the majority of local schools - also came to the Deputy's defence.

NEU Regional Secretary Ian Stevenson commented: "Deputy Southern has consistently demonstrated his support for teachers, but also made concerted efforts to seek a resolution to the teachers' pay dispute in the interests of all.

"Members of the NEU on Jersey will be saddened to hear of the sacking of Deputy Southern from his ministerial post in government, following his call for a vote of no confidence in the SEB over the teachers' pay dispute."

The vote of no confidence in the SEB is scheduled to take place on 4 June.

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