Jersey teachers' strike to affect 'all 33 States schools'

The NEU has confirmed five days of strike action will go ahead

Members of a Jersey teachers' union are set to stage a five-day strike after pay talks with the government broke down.

The National Education Union (NEU) said negotiations failed with the States Employment Board (SEB) over a 7.9% pay rise during a "long running dispute".

Staff will be on strike on 17 and 18 October, and from 14-16 November affecting all 33 States schools.

The government is "disappointed" in the decision, a spokesperson said.

The action will include a family walk at Les Quennevais sport ground on 17 October and workplace demonstrations at Jersey College for Girls, First Tower, La Moye and Victoria College on 18 October.

It said National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) members had also served notice of action on 18 October.

Teaching unions have already staged walkouts this year

Caryn Symons, NEU's senior regional officer, said: "It is deeply disappointing that despite suggested alternative ways to end the dispute, the SEB have failed to show any willingness to genuinely negotiate to end this dispute."

She said teacher and support staff recruitment "remained in crisis" amid a "pay debacle" and teachers will "continue to take action until the crisis in education is addressed".

'Fair and reasonable offer'

Earlier this month, the SEB said the NEU had "effectively closed the door to the resolution of the dispute in 2023", and that talks for 2024 and a potential multi-year pay settlement would begin this month.

Constable Andy Jehan, from the SEB, said he was disappointed at the decision.

He said: "We were prepared to put our case to an independent person through 'binding arbitration' and be bound by their determination, having put forward a fair and reasonable offer.

"I know there are many teachers who want to just get on with the job without disruption, and I am equally sorry that continued industrial action impacts them as well."