Nurses look forward to sitting down around the negotiating table

Friday 27 September 2019

The biggest nursing union involved in an ongoing pay dispute with the States of Guernsey is happy with news they'll be getting around the table with the island's Industrial Disputes Officer.

A representative for the Royal College of Nursing said they had been aiming to sit down to negotiate with the States for some time.

P&R have offered to meet with the RCN and all other AFC staff unions this coming Monday, with the conciliatory assistance of the IDO @GuernseyRCN @Govgg

— Jonathan Le Tocq(@letocq) September 26, 2019

Earlier this week, it set a deadline for the States, saying if progress did not start to be made by Friday, it would start to consider industrial action. 

Yesterday though, Policy & Resources announced it had contacted the Industrial Disputes Officer - an independent body who can help to mediate negotiations between the two parties. This came after the RCN rejected the latest offer that came directly from P&R. 

Indeed, the objectives are shared then; so I hope the RCN will welcome our offer to meet again with representatives of all four unions in a further attempt to progress negotiations with the assistance from the Industrial Disputes Officer in bringing conciliation between parties. https://t.co/14h0z3Ugxa pic.twitter.com/PuTrXycUXy

— Gavin St Pier (@gavinstpier) September 26, 2019

Kenny Lloyd, a nursing convenor for the RCN in Guernsey, told Express they were happy with this direction.

"There has been a response ahead of our deadline, which has been positive news - it will get us sat down around the table," he said.

"We are looking forward to working toward a negotiated settlement."

Nurses on the island are protesting because they feel their pay conditions are well below a fair standard. That affects both their standard of living, and also the robustness of the healthcare system, because nursing posts are understaffed, and high quality staff have no reason to work in Guernsey.

Deputy Heidi Soulsby, the President of Health & Social Care, has called for a settlement to be reached before protesting reaches the point of industrial action, which would affect the day-to-day operation of the hospital.