And the Fire and Rescue Association is also considering taking the States to a tribunal because of changes in public-sector pensions, Treasury Minister Susie Pinel said yesterday.
This week nursing unions were due to meet the Jersey Advisory Conciliation Service after their members overwhelmingly rejected the latest pay offer from the States following a ballot.
If no agreement is reached, the next move would be for the nursing unions to take the States to a tribunal, following which they might take industrial action.
The Royal College of Nurses has previously described the pay offer – which the States claim would result in nurses being given on average a 6.6 per cent rise backdated to January – as a ‘slap in the face’.
Following a ballot of its members, the RCN, Jersey Nursing Association and Royal College of Midwives have all lodged a formal dispute with the States.
Di Francis, RCN senior regional officer, said: ‘Going into dispute isn’t a process we take lightly but we feel it is the only way forward. We have been consistent with our message to the States – give nurses and midwives equal pay with their allied health professional colleagues, something that the States
promised more than six years ago and have failed to deliver.’
She said that the current strategy did nothing to address retention issues in Jersey, as it cut back unsocial-hours payments and still failed to offer equal pay for work of equal value.
‘Going into dispute is the next step in trying to find a resolution to this,’ Ms Francis said. ‘Nursing staff are keen for the public to know they are not being greedy and are absolutely committed to delivering high-quality care, but enough is enough. Their patience is now being severely tested and many are prepared to consider taking industrial action should an acceptable deal not be offered. We call on the States to resolve this issue now.’
A total of 95% of members of the Jersey Nurses Association also rejected the pay offer, with 88% of those voting to reject it saying they were prepared to take action.
Terry Keefe from the JNA said: ‘Clearly this demonstrates the strength of feeling among nurses regarding this rehashed workforce modernisation pay offer.
‘It is in the interests of all that the employer returns to serious negotiations. If not, then nurses will consider all available options to ensure this vote is not ignored.’
Meanwhile, during the States yesterday Deputy Pinel said ‘30-plus’ firefighters were considering taking action following changes to their pensions. Deputy Rob Ward told the Assembly that firefighters were being faced with a five per cent rise in their pension contributions, for lower repayments over a longer period.
Deputy Pinel said: ‘We’ve been speaking to the Fire and Rescue Association’s chief executive. I think they may be taking a claim to tribunal.’
