Jersey nurses plan to hold protest march

Nurses and midwives in Jersey are planning a protest march over pay proposals.

The States Employment board has offered them a 3% pay rise in 2013.

Kenny McNeil, chairman of the nurses and midwives joint executive, said the rise failed to deal with long-standing problems with pay.

He said a march or rally was being arranged and the group planned to write to the employment board.

Nurses and midwives have asked for a pay deal that puts them on a par with other health care workers in similar roles and takes into account the high cost of living in the island.

They have also raised concerns the island will struggle to recruit and retain nurses if the current pay situation stays the same.

The employment board has already increased its pay offer from 1% to 3% and agreed to solve the shortfall in nurses' pay by 2018.