Nurses threaten industrial action

Thursday 15 September 2022

Guernsey's nurses have rejected the latest pay offer from the States, with some saying they are still not being offered a fair deal compared to other work of equal value.

The latest offer was a three year deal including an uplift of 5% plus £500 for this year, an uplift of RPIX next year and RPIX minus 1% the year after.

Pictured: Although the nurses are employed by HSC, it is the Policy and Resources Committee which negotiates salaries.

There were conditions attached to the first and third year offers as follows: 

• 2022: An uplift of 5% plus a payment of £500 to be added to all pay scales. The £500 will be consolidated into basic pay and will therefore be permanent and pensionable. For the avoidance of doubt, any additional payments and allowances, etc. that are not calculated with reference to basic pay will be uplifted by 5%. This means, for example, that any bonuses or other contractual entitlements that are set at a flat rate will be increased by 5%. Please note as has been the case for many years, the recruitment and retention premia paid to eligible staff after three and six years’ service will not be uplifted.
• 2023: An uplift of RPIX as at 30th June 2022 
• 2024: An uplift of RPIX as at 30th June 2023 minus 1%. Should RPIX as of this date be less than 1%, the Employer will not seek to implement a pay cut and the award for that year would be zero

This offer was put to ballot by Royal College of Nursing members in Guernsey.

It closed on Tuesday with a majority of the 65.2% of members who voted, saying to reject the offer.

A second question had asked those balloted if they would "be prepared to undertake industrial action and/or action short of strike". A majority of the balloted members voted to say yes, they would. 

Pictured: 65.2% of members of the Guernsey branch of the RCN were balloted on the pay offer, with a majority voting to reject it. A majority also said they would "be prepared to undertake industrial action and/or action short of strike". 

The RCN had previously urged its members to reject the pay offer, with a union spokesperson now confirming that the issue of 'pay parity' is still a sticking point.

During the consultation period the question of pay parity (equal pay for work of equal value) was once again raised, with members recognising that the offer went nowhere near addressing the issues and many members feeling nurses were not getting a fair deal.

Sarah Johnston, RCN Operational Manager said: “Getting such a strong turnout on this ballot is an indication as to how strongly members feel about pay. The underlying issue on pay has simply been ignored by the States.

"Yes, members have had recent pay rises but the gap between their pay and that of their Civil Service peers remains. The final year below inflation rise was seen as a slap in the face by many. We really hope that the States do not ignore us again. We want to talk with them, we want to discuss nursing pay in a constructive manner.” 

The offer was made to all 'Agenda for Change' pay groups, which includes most States' employees in healthcare.  Deputy David Mahoney is the States lead on employment matters, who had described the offer as "very fair" earlier this year. 

He also told Express that "some pay groups have agreed the offer [but] the majority have not yet made a decision".

At the time the offer was made, Deputy Mahoney also said that it "sought to balance the need for restraint in expenditure with the increasing cost of living and to give certainty to both employees and to the community by proposing a deal covering a three-year period".

Responding to the announcement from the RCN that members had rejected the pay offer, the following statement was issued on Friday morning on behalf of the Policy and Resources Committee: 

"At this current time we are respecting the National Period of Mourning, but we will comment further next week after that period has ended."

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