Teachers' union plans three days of strikes in Jersey

Teaching unions have already staged walkouts this year

A teachers' union in Jersey is planning three days of strikes in a pay dispute.

The NASUWT said its members were due to walk out on 12 September,18 October and 19 October.

It said the action was "following the failure of the government of Jersey to keep its promise of a backdated pay award of 7.9%".

The government said it would sign-off the previously agreed backdated increase if unions committed that "all industrial action would end".

Members of the school leaders' union NAHT have agreed to strike alongside NASUWT on 12 September, noting it had "exhausted all other avenues" to resolve the dispute.

The Vice-Chair of the States Employment Board, Constable Andy Jehan, called the strikes "an unnecessary disruption to children and parents after a long summer break".

He said: "Teachers have already had a 7.9% increase in their pay, which the States Employment Board paid, even though the unions were undertaking industrial action. We did this in good faith.

"We wrote to the NASUWT in July saying we are willing to back date the pay award to January 2023, if they and the NEU agreed that this would finalise the pay deal for 2023 and all industrial action would end.

His statement added: "The solution is very simple, both the NASUWT and National Education Union have to write to us accepting the backpay and the end of the pay dispute in 2023, and we will make this payment at the earliest opportunity.

"With pay discussion due to start soon for 2024 where the unions are expecting to negotiate a multi-year deal, it is important we start them with a clear field and a constructive and mature approach."

'Completely avoidable'

The NASUWT said it balloted its members earlier this year following the failure of the government to address years of "real-terms pay erosion that teachers have suffered since 2008, or to address spiralling workloads".

It said the threat of industrial action had led to the backdated pay award being promised - and the union said it withdrew its plans for industrial action as a gesture of goodwill - but added "that promise has now been broken".

NASUWT general secretary Dr Patrick Roach said: "This strike action was completely avoidable had the government upheld the agreement that was reached with the NASUWT.

"As such, the government is entirely responsible for the action that has been announced.

"Industrial action will continue unless and until the States Employment Board delivers a better deal for teachers on pay and working conditions."

'Last resort'

Rob Kelsall, NAHT assistant general secretary, said members had been "left with no other choice" but to strike.

He said: "Our members have been pushed to the brink and we believe the only way this can now be resolved before schools are forced to close on 12 September will be if the chief minister agrees to meet with us and tables an offer that is acceptable to teachers and leaders which reflects their unstinting dedication, commitment, and professionalism."

Carl Howarth, president of NAHT Jersey, said industrial action was "a last resort".

He said: "We understand that any action we are taking may cause inconvenience and we apologise in advance for this.

"However, in the face of a government that is refusing to deal with the very real and legitimate concerns that we have, and following years of real terms pay cuts, we have no option and a civil responsibility to take action in order to protect the quality of education in our island."

Strike action in July, involving the NEU, NASUWT and NAHT unions, closed 30 of Jersey's 33 schools.

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