Jersey leaders heckled at teachers' strike rally

Some teachers in Jersey are taking part in strike action

Jersey leaders were booed and heckled by striking teachers amid the closure of the majority of States' schools.

Chief Minister Deputy Kristina Moore and Connétable Andy Jehan, vice chair of the States Employment Board, addressed teachers at a rally in Royal Square on Wednesday.

The politicians told the crowd a review of teachers' terms and conditions was now under way,

A person shouted: "We don't want bus passes, we want a pay rise."

During the rally, Reform Jersey deputies Rob Ward and Sam Mezec, who are supporting teachers, also took the microphone, as did a number of union members.

Teachers had walked out in a "long-running dispute over a proposed real-term cut to salaries", the National Education Union (NEU) said.

Nearly 400 members were balloted after members rejected a pay offer of 7.9% in May.

Chief Minister Deputy Kristina Moore addressed striking teachers

The States Employment Board said the union's request for a 15.4% pay increase was "out-of-touch".

But teaching unions have warned further action could follow if the 7.9% pay offer was not improved upon.

There are 30 States of Jersey schools closed across the island and five that are open.

NEU members are on strike, while members of the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teacher (NASUWT) are continuing to take industrial action, refusing to cover lessons if colleagues are absent.

National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) members started industrial action on Wednesday but are not striking.

Members of a number of unions have been either striking or taking industrial action

Adrian Moss, classroom teacher and Jersey joint branch secretary, said: "The lack of recognition of the actual time that teachers work has fuelled anger over the below-inflation pay rise that has been offered, not only this year, but over many years since 2008.

"The crisis in education is highlighted by the unprecedented situation where NEU, NASUWT and NAHT have all voted for strike action.

"This represents the failings that exist in the broken education system that operates for students and teachers in Jersey."

Connétable Jehan, vice chair of the States Employment Board, said in a Government of Jersey blog: "That we are at this point is something that I profoundly regret."

He said: "Any addition beyond 7.9% would have to be found from other public services and that includes schools".

He added that teachers were "rewarded fairly and compared to other professions on the island are in the higher paid bands".

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