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If the pay row between Bailiwick teachers and the States isn't resolved then schools could be left dealing with staff refusing to do any overtime - which often includes planning and marking work outside of school hours.
Members of the NASUWT - The Teachers’ Union recently voted in favour of industrial action - with the majority saying they'd prefer to take part in 'action short of a strike' rather than walking out completely.
Action short of strike action has been utilised elsewhere and advice was most recently updated last October in Northern Ireland.
Pictured: Teaching staff in Northern Ireland were given a list of 29 instructions for taking part in 'action short of strike action' last October.
Research carried out by Express found that teachers, substitute teachers, principals and vice-principals in Northern Ireland were told action short of strike action includes a refusal to implement new policies, attend meetings, carry out additional responsibilities, not invigilate public exams or reply to any work related messages outside of scheduled lesson times.
Many other restrictions can also be acted upon ranging from refusing to do any photocopying to refusing to co-operate with inspections.
In total, staff in Northern Ireland were given a list of 29 work related duties they could refuse to do.
If replicated in Guernsey, Alderney and Herm's schools, this would mean teaching staff could still teach pupils but no associated tasks would be carried out.
Pictured: The NASUWT yesterday threatened strike action based on a ballot of its members.
The NASUWT said 57% of its members in Guernsey took part in its recent ballot - with 87% of them voting in favour of action short of strike action while 76% voted to go a step further and backed strike action.
The union is now considering the scope of and a timetable for industrial action but said an improved pay offer and proposals to address workload concerns could avoid any action being taken.
The pay offer made to teachers includes a 5% raise for 2022 plus £500 across all pay grades, an inflationary increase this year, and inflation minus 1% next year. Union members rejected it with some members saying it had made them "angry" or "really angry" in a previous ballot.
The NASUWT yesterday reiterated that the pay offer is seen by members as a "further real-terms pay cut for teachers in Guernsey, following years of pay erosion stretching back to 2008".
The union also said teachers pay has fallen behind median earnings growth and pay awards given to other States employees and is increasingly uncompetitive compared with Jersey, and the UK, once the higher cost of living is taken into consideration.
Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT General Secretary, said members had "overwhelmingly voted to take action" which he described as "unprecedented on Guernsey".
Pictured: Dr Roach said teachers in Guernsey may strike or take 'action short of strike action' in their ongoing row over pay and workloads.
He said the union had spent many years warning the States about the heavy workload teachers face, and their "diminishing pay".
“This situation was completely avoidable, and the fact that members have voted for action is a damning indictment of the States’ policies and practices," said Dr Roach.
“The States should be in no doubt of the resolve of NASUWT members, and need to lift their collective heads from the sand and sit down with us so that we can collectively look to solve the problems facing the profession in Guernsey. If such a commitment is not forthcoming from the States, then we will have no option but to move to industrial action.”
Pictured: Deputy Dave Mahoney (inset) is the lead on employer matters for the Policy & Resources Committee.
Deputy Dave Mahoney leads on employer matters for the Policy & Resources Committee. He said: "We’re disappointed that the NASUWT continues to push for industrial action."
He said the ballot results show a minority of teachers want to strike and he urged teachers to 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.”
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