Jersey teachers approve industrial action proposal

Teachers in Jersey have approved plans to take part in industrial action, a union says.

The National Union of Teachers (NUT) said its 200 members were prepared to strike or take other action over a below-inflation government pay offer.

Teachers, and other public service workers want a 4% increase.

An offer for a 1% rise for 2013 and 2014, and an additional 1% lump sum payment, was "final", the island's government, the States, said.

It added that the economic conditions facing Jersey meant it could not offer a higher award.

NUT regional secretary Andy Woolley said the union had put forward proposals to how the States could afford an inflation-level rise but that had "not had the sort of response we would have wished".

He added industrial action would be a "last step", and the union was "seeking to engage in mediation" with the States directly, or through the Jersey Arbitration and Conciliation Service.