During States question time yesterday, Senator Andrew Green was quizzed by members of Reform Jersey over why senior ministers had not sat down with public-sector staff and trade union representatives to discuss their issues over the proposed 2015 pay structure.
Deputy Sam Mézec accused Senator Green, who was standing in for the Chief Minister, of letting officers from the States Employment Board ‘do their dirty work’.
- 6,500 Number of Islanders receiving Income Support
- 3.1% Estimated rate of inflation next year
- 450 Number of zero-hour jobs created in the past two years
- 37% Fall in Island productivity since the year 2000[/breakout]
The Jersey Unions Council, which is made up of all the public-sector unions, and the States have been in dispute since the announcement of a series of public-sector cuts, which include a pay freeze for all States workers except nurses and midwives, who will receive a 0.4 per cent rise.
In response to Deputy Mézec’s question about what was being done to avoid the possibility of strike action following the States decision to adopt the Medium Term Financial Plan, Senator Green said: ‘Negotiations on the 2015 public-sector pay review are continuing. A number of unions have formally identified a failure to agree and officers held meetings with head teachers on 6 October and a number of other meetings with unions on 15 October.
‘The States Employment Board continue to discuss developments, and it is my understanding that our officers are still in negotiations and we are not in formal dispute.’
Deputy Southern said it was his understanding that there was ‘a failure to agree’.
The minister was also criticised for not meeting the trade union representatives personally. Deputy Mézec asked if it would take a ballot for strike action for staff to be ‘taken seriously’.
Senator Green, who sits on the States Employment Board, which sets terms for the employment of public-sector workers, said: ‘We all want to avoid industrial action, but the fact is that the States Employment Board set the policy and the officers are the experts in negotiation. I am the Health Minister but I don’t go taking appendixes out.
‘The fact is that we are always happy as a board to listen to what trade unions have to say, but we are not going to start getting involved with negotiations.
‘Threaten me with strikes, threaten me with what you like – the fact is there are proper ways of doing this. Negotiations are ongoing.’
THE Council of Ministers will this week be inviting States Members to a briefing on population policy.
Answering two questions on population in the States yesterday, from Deputies Sam Mézec and Jackie Hilton, Deputy Chief Minister Andrew Green said that population was a critical element of the Medium Term Financial Plan to 2019.
Deputy Mézec wanted to know if any progress had been made towards a full population policy. He claimed that none of the population limits set over recent years had been achieved. But Senator Green said it was ‘not as simple’ to get a balance between people working at the lower end of the economy and those with the highest incomes.
‘We have seen very clearly that the number of jobs has grown by 800 in the past year, and I think it is important that we have a population to support the ageing population,’ he said.
Deputy Geoff Southern asked why, if the present policy was to target higher-end jobs, 450 of the jobs created over the last two years were for zero-hour contracts.
The minister said that the Deputy was ‘muddling up’ two different issues. ‘Zero-hour contracts have a useful place, for example for supply teachers, and for seasonal workers in the agricultural industry,’ he claimed.
Deputy Jackie Hilton asked the minister whether he thought an ‘open door’ policy for European Union passport holders was best for Jersey, and whether there should be more selection. Senator Green said that he had been advised that in any case there was nothing the Island could do because of the protocol signed with the EU – a point raised later by Deputy Montfort Tadier, who suggested that if other jurisdictions could have limits, Jersey too could bring in work permits if the political will was there.
Senator Green said that the Council of Ministers would this week be inviting Members to ‘come along and discuss the way forward’ for population policy.
NEW proposals are being sought to help Islanders who want to install double glazing in protected listed buildings, the Environment Minister says.
Deputy Steve Luce has asked officers in the Planning Department to come up with ideas which continue to protect listed buildings, but which also recognise that some changes – such as improving a property’s windows – are required if the Island is to meet its commitment to reduce energy waste and emissions.
Yesterday, following a question from Deputy Simon Brée, Deputy Luce told the States Assembly:
‘On one hand we want to protect and preserve the historic nature of listed buildings, but on the other hand we have an energy plan which, as a government, means we are also committed to reducing energy wastage and emissions.’
THE Economic Development Minister has defended the use of zero-hour contracts, saying: ‘All jobs are good jobs’.
Senator Lyndon Farnham was questioned by Deputy Geoff Southern in the States yesterday about the predominance of zero-hour contracts in Jersey
and what impact they are having on the Island’s economy.
Senator Farnham said these types of contracts were useful in businesses where work demands were irregular. He added that the average salary for Islanders employed on zero-hour contracts was £17,000 and that the majority of that would be spent locally, contributing to the local economy.
