With neither side giving any ground in the ongoing pay dispute between public-sector workers and the States, JCSA Prospect, which represents civil servants, has announced that 93 per cent of its members indicated in a poll that they would now be willing to go on strike.
The union has around 2,500 members, more than half of whom took part in the vote.
Discontent among large numbers of public-sector workers, including teachers, nurses, firefighters and head teachers, has grown in recent months with more than 86 per cent offered a below-inflation pay award for 2018, which would not match the increasing cost of living.
More than 90 per cent are also expected to receive sub-inflation pay awards next year.
JCSA Prospect president Terry Renouf said that his members had indicated that ‘enough is enough’ after having received effective pay cuts for almost two decades.
‘[The poll result] was completely overwhelming. It certainly shows that there is a growing strength of feeling that enough is enough,’ he said.
‘Since 2001, the public sector has received below cost of living pay increases. There was only one year where there was something approaching the cost of living.
‘By contrast, the private sector has been getting above the cost of living increases. So the public sector have continually had their standard of living reduced in real terms.’
Mr Renouf said that the States had failed to actively engage in negotiations with the unions, despite four meetings being arranged this year, which has left staff feeling ‘disrespected’.
He added that JCSA Prospect planned to discuss further steps with the other public sector unions, several of which are also balloting members, and confirmed that a general strike was an increasing likelihood.
‘We would like to meet with the other unions this week and would like to take this forward in a unified manner,’ he said.
‘Our concerns are shared by the other unions, although we have varying claims in terms of our pay awards.
‘If you look at the head teachers’ association, for example, their indicative poll was 98 per cent of members being in favour of strike action. I am sure that would be reflected in their actual poll.’
He added: ‘It is unfortunate and we do not want to go on strike. We want to provide the best public services possible for the people of this Island.
‘But the vast majority of workers are fed up and this poll is an indication that enough is enough.’
States Employment Board chairwoman Senator Tracey Vallois was due make a statement in the States Assembly on Tuesday providing an update on the pay-offer dispute.
