Civil service union JCSA Prospect and Unite the Union have confirmed that Customs and Immigration officials will join teaching assistants in a walk-out on Monday.
Meanwhile, Jersey’s two nursing unions have rejected a 3.1 per cent pay rise for 2018 and three per cent increase for 2019. They are due to meet to discuss the next steps. The Royal College of Midwives accepted the pay offer.
While there are no international flights scheduled for Monday, Condor’s St Malo ferry service is likely to be disrupted – potentially affecting the 113 passengers who have booked to travel that day. There are two boats scheduled to arrive in Jersey Customs officers and teaching assistants, other civil servants are due to walk out on Tuesday and gather in the Royal Square as the States begins its first sitting of the new year.
Assistant Chief Minister Richard Buchanan, who is vice-chairman of the States Employment Board, was due to hold a press conference this morning to outline how services would be affected by the action.
Some schools were forced to close temporarily last month when teaching assistants joined a mass protest in Liberation Square.
However, there has been no confirmation yet which schools – if any – will be shut on Monday.
A spokesman for the Ports of Jersey said: ‘Ports of Jersey would like to reassure both air and sea passengers travelling on domestic services – those within the UK and Channel Islands – next Monday that the proposed industrial action will not impact upon their journey and that they should continue with their travel plans.
‘However, Monday’s proposed industrial action is likely to impact the St Malo service, with two arrivals and one departure scheduled, affecting approximately 113 passengers. Ports of Jersey is liaising with Condor Ferries and is awaiting a further update. No “international” flights are scheduled at Jersey Airport on Monday.’
He added that while immigration requirements do not apply to those arriving in the Island from domestic flights, passengers will still be subject to Customs checks from their place of departure and ‘should not exceed their usual Customs allowance’.
‘Ports of Jersey is establishing a working party to consider long-term contingency plans should this industrial action continue and how it may impact on future operations at the ports,’ he added. ‘In the meantime, Ports of Jersey will continue to work alongside relevant agencies to ensure minimum disruption for its passengers.’
Three education unions – the NEU, Jersey Association of Headteachers and NASUWT – are all in the process of deciding whether to call strike action as a result of the ongoing pay dispute.
Public sector staff have been angered by the proposed pay deals for 2018 and 2019 with the unions arguing that below-inflation awards are eroding the standard of living for staff.
The States Employment Board has consistently said there is ‘no capacity’ to offer higher pay awards as the States does not have enough money for increased offers.
Further union ballots are due to end soon with the Royal College of Nursing vote closing last night and the NEU ballot ending on Monday.
Both Unite and JCSA Prospect have said that further civil servant strike action could follow should the States refuse to return to negotiations.
Customs and Immigration officers are due to strike all day on Monday while teaching assistants are planning to walk out between 11.30 am and 2 pm.
