In a strongly worded open letter to politicians, the JSCA Prospect union has claimed that 60% of civil servants will not receive the 6.5% pay rise for 2018, 2019 and 2020 the SEB claimed they would in a letter published earlier this week.
On Monday, Chief Minister John Le Fondré, and other members of the board, wrote to States Members claiming they had tried ‘to find a way to resolve’ their long-running pay dispute with large sections of public sector employees.
They added that they believed the latest offers made to employees were ‘fair and reasonable’ but admitted that the dispute had had an impact on staff morale.
Many pay groups, in particular teachers and civil servants, are angry at receiving awards for 2018 and 2019 which were below inflation levels.
Disaffected groups were recently offered a guaranteed rise of 1.3% over inflation for 2020.
The SEB’s letter claims that civil servants were now set to receive a total pay rise of 6.5% from 2018 to 2020 as a result.
But in response to the SEB’s letter, JCSA Prospect vice-president Mick Robbins has said that this claim is ‘untrue’, with many staff due to have their pay frozen as a result of public sector reform.
‘In the States Assembly it was quoted that 60% of staff will be in pay protection as a result of Charlie Parker’s Target Operating Model reorganisation,’ it says.
‘Those in pay protection will receive no increase in their salary in 2020. These civil servants will receive only a 2% rise between 2018-2020, so in reality a real-term pay cut of 8.5%.
‘There would then follow further real-term pay cuts in 2021 and 2022 as their pay is frozen and potentially reducing in 2023.’
Mr Robbins’ letter adds that the SEB had failed to provide any evidence that, as claimed, it had ‘made significant steps in narrowing the pay gap between civil servants and other groups’.
‘Despite numerous requests from our union to the officers representing the SEB, no data has been presented to support the statement that there is a gap.’ it says. ‘When the SEB presents information then, in order to have intelligent and informed debate, it must provide the supporting data.’
Next Tuesday the States are due to debate a proposition lodged by Deputy Geoff Southern calling for funds to be released from the Consolidated Fund (States’ surplus monies) so that better pay rises can be provided for public sector workers.
Civil servants who are members of Unite the union and JCSA Prospect have been urged to go to the Royal Square and States Assembly during their work breaks to show support for the proposition, as well as for members of the NASUWT teaching union, which has organised a strike on that day.
