Guernsey teachers could strike

Thursday 02 February 2023

Teachers in Guernsey and Alderney are to be balloted by their union with a view to launching industrial action over their pay and workload.

The NASUWT - The Teachers' Union announced this morning that it intends to hold a ballot and that it is "entirely the fault of the States".

This ballot warning is further to a statement issued by the NASUWT in January, in response to questions from Express, where the Union warned that the ongoing pay dispute between teaching staff and the States could lead to industrial action if the Industrial Dispute Officer couldn't resolve the matter.

A spokesperson for the NASUWT the Teachers' Union said on 19 January that "the ball is very much in the States court".

Pictured: Deputy David Mahoney is responsible for the States pay negotiations with public sector workers.

In response then the States said that the offer on the table for teachers "is the best possible offer" adding that "...officers have been in dialogue with the IDO and we continue to hope that this matter can be resolved shortly." 

The pay offer was made last year. The Policy and Resources Committee - as the employing body for teachers in Guernsey - offered staff a 5% raise for 2022 plus £500 across all pay grades, then an inflationary increase in 2023, and inflation minus 1% in 2024.

Today, the NASUWT has reaffirmed its position and said the offer represents a "further real-terms pay cut for teachers in Guernsey", and that it follows "years of pay erosion stretching back to 2008".

The union has said that teachers’ pay has fallen behind median earnings growth and pay awards given to other States employees and behind that of teachers in the UK and Jersey. 

It's said that these factors are "fuelling increasing difficulties in recruiting and retaining teachers in Guernsey schools" with the ballot for industrial action over working conditions as well as pay.

The NASUWT General Secretary, Dr Patrick Roach said the States could prevent any strikes by negotiating with them. 

Pictured: The Industrial Disputes Officer will have to intervene in the dispute between teachers and the States.

“Since Spring 2022 the NASUWT has been urging the States to return to the negotiating table to discuss pay, however the States have been completely intransigent, and despite the NASUWT using every avenue available, have refused to enter into further discussions with us," he said.

“Industrial action is always a last resort and teachers have been incredibly patient, giving the States nearly a year to return to the negotiating table. However, their patience has now been exhausted. 

“This unprecedented step is deeply regrettable, but is entirely the fault of the States.

“The education service in Guernsey is in a recruitment and retention crisis, fuelled by low pay and spiralling workloads

“An award that recognises the historic erosion in pay is required, along with tangible action to tackle ever-increasing workload demands. Without this, Guernsey will only find it ever more difficult to recruit and retain the teachers our children and young people need.” 

Pictured: Nurses and others in the UK are striking.

Teachers across England and Wales are currently taking industrial action, with thousands striking.

The NEU has said it's in response to "a toxic mix of low pay and excessive workload".

The recent strike action has coincided with walk outs by numerous work forces including nurses, ambulance crews, train drivers and others.

People employed by the States of Guernsey are paid at rates set locally. 

The most recent ballot of NASUWT members in the Bailiwick was held in September when 16% said they were "happy" with the offer, while 71% said they were "angry" or "really angry".

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