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The man tasked with resolving industrial disputes in Guernsey has said that there is "no prospect of a negotiated settlement" between the island's teachers and their paymasters.
Policy and Resources sets the wages for public sector workers - which includes all staff across the States run schools.
Teachers who are members of the NASUWT - The Teachers Union are among those who have rejected the three year pay offer they were offered last year.
Stephen Naftel, the Industrial Disputes Officer for Guernsey, has now referred the matter to a Tribunal which will set a binding award for the teachers.
Pictured: NASWUT members were not happy with the pay offer made last year.
The pay offer at the heart of the dispute included a 5% uplift to salaries for 2022, plus a sum of £500 which would be consolidated into pay scales and become permanent and pensionable (backdated to 1 January 2022 with the applicable RPIX of 2.3%). It also offered an uplift equal to RPIX as at 30 June 2022, which was 7%, for 2023, and an uplift equal to RPIX as at 30 June 2023, minus 1% for 2024. In the event that RPIX falls below 1% this year then teachers would be given a pay award of zero to avoid a pay cut.
Mr Naftel said he has been aware that teachers and P&R have been at loggerheads over this offer and having spoken with both sides he believes there is no prospect of them reaching an agreement with a Tribunal setting a binding award.
Pictured: Mr Naftel's statement released today.
A second, recent ballot of NASUWT members concerning the pay offer saw 56% vote.
Of those, 86% voted for 'action short of a strike' while 76% said they wanted to strike in protest against their pay and workloads.
Mr Naftel said that as he has referred the dispute to a Tribunal, which will set a binding pay award, there is no need for industrial action.
That has been echoed by Deputy Dave Mahoney - who is the lead States member for pay matters. He yesterday reiterated that he believes this offer is a generous one, and that teachers should accept it.
"I’d stress again that the pay award is an above inflation increase across three years, and this has been acknowledged by the NASUWT. Given the pressures on public finances, which remain unresolved following the recent States debate, this is a very fair award which recognises the incredibly important role our teachers play in our community,” he said.
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