The Jersey Nursing Association, a branch of Unite the union, was due to announce the results of its poll last week, but has had to hold the survey again after an investigation found the initial attempt to be invalid.
The latest offer to nurses and midwives, which was made at the start of last month, was 3.1% and 3% rises for 2018 and 2019, as well as a guaranteed wage increase of inflation +1.3% next year.
The States Employment Board also offered a ‘no detriment clause’, meaning if better deals were made to other pay groups, then those deals would be matched for nurses and midwives.
And nurses were also promised additional pay uplifts next year to match the wages of the associated health professionals who they work with.
A post on the JNA’s Facebook page indicated that the offer had been misrepresented on their recent ballot paper, meaning the poll was void.
‘The investigation has concluded that due to wrong information relating to the pay deal being sent with the ballot, the results are void,’ the message said. ‘A new ballot will be sent to JNA members this week.’
Meanwhile, the NASUWT and NEU teaching unions were this week in talks with the SEB as they try to negotiate a better deal for 2018 and 2019 for their members.
The NASUWT has threatened escalated industrial action, including a series of rolling strikes and refusal to cover classes for absent teachers, unless a better deal is struck.
Teachers were most recently offered pay rises of 2% for 2018 and 2019, as well as 1.1% and 1% lump-sum payments for each year. Last month they were additionally offered inflation +1.3% pay rises for 2020, but rejected the revised deal.
So far four strikes have been held in the public sector, involving teachers and civil servants, due to widespread dissatisfaction at receiving below-inflation pay awards across many pay groups.
Civil servants in the JCSA Prospect and Unite unions are considering further industrial action after also rejecting their latest deals.
Last week the Royal College of Nursing accepted their pay offer from the SEB, joining their police and manual worker colleagues in doing so.
