Instead, Kenny McNeil, chairman of the Jersey branch of the Royal College of Nursing, said that it was up to the individual to choose whether they wanted to accept their new terms.
The message follows a meeting last week, which was attended by nearly 300 people, at Hautlieu School, chaired by representatives from a number of different unions, to discuss the changes – known as ‘Workforce Modernisation’.
A ballot on whether States employees wish to accept the changes is currently taking place.
Mr McNeil said: ‘What we have been telling people is that it is not a deal for everybody and they need to take a decision on whether or not they want to accept it.
‘I think in general we have been let down by this whole project. For some people they may get a better deal than others and they may wish to accept it, they just need to go and vote. It is not a fait accompli.’
Under the changes, 35 ambulance service staff are set to receive a 21.4 per cent increase in pensionable pay by 2020, while nearly 3,300 civil servants working in the public sector are set to receive an average rise of 3.3 per cent by 2020.
Mr McNeil added that unions were still keen to resolve the issues and open to discussion with the government. He said: ‘We were still in talks with the States when they chose to cut the conversation short. We ended up getting a letter on the Friday night offering the new terms and that was it.
‘There is always an opportunity to resolve the issues and that extends beyond the period when we have collated all the ballot results.
‘But if the States do not choose to talk then trade unions will move forward and take any action necessary.’
