HUNDREDS of teachers are set to strike next month after long-running pay talks collapsed.
The government yesterday announced that NEU members were due to walk out on 5 July after rejecting a 7.9% pay rise.
It is not yet clear how long the action will last, but the government said it could involve a series of strike days leading up to the summer holidays – and that it was currently assessing how many schools will be affected.
There are around 850 teachers across the unions, of which the NEU represents around 370.
NASUWT members have also voted in favour of strikes, with the union currently considering a ‘timetable for action’ which is likely to be launched in the next academic year.
The NEU saw a turnout of around 58% for its ballot, with 91% of participants voting in favour of the strike.
The NASUWT saw a turnout of 51% with 86% in favour of a strike.
The JEP understands that the NEU and NASUWT are asking for pay increases of RPI + 5% and RPI + 4% respectively.
Marina Mauger, of the NASUWT, said the vote was ‘not an unexpected result’.
‘Teachers are seeing an increase in the cost of living but not an increase in pay, so I don’t want it to drag on and I hope that the government will come to its senses,’ she added.
NASUWT general secretary Dr Patrick Roach said the situation was ‘unprecedented’ in Jersey.
‘NASUWT members have overwhelmingly voted to take action.
‘The NASUWT has been warning the States for many years that the morale of the teaching profession was collapsing under the weight of ever increasing workloads and diminishing pay, yet these warnings repeatedly been ignored,’ he continued.
‘This situation was completely avoidable, and the fact that members have voted for action is a damning indictment of the States’ complacency and failure to recognise and act to address the escalating crisis within its teaching cohort.
‘The States now must recognise the depth of anger amongst the profession and seize the limited window of opportunity still available to avoid industrial action.’
The NEU has confirmed an initial day of strike action has been called for all 33 States of Jersey schools on 5 July, with a demonstration of teachers, parents and supporters scheduled to take place outside the States Assembly that same day.
Maria Fawcett, NEU regional secretary said: ‘Industrial action is always a last resort, but unfortunately our hardworking and committed members have been left with no alternative. Teachers have sent a strong message to the Minister that another below inflation pay offer is not acceptable particularly when inflation is running at more than 12%.
‘Teachers on the island have seen their pay decline in real terms over the last decade and as well as this impacting on their daily lives it has created a worsening recruitment and retention crisis which is impacting negatively on the classroom.
‘We urge the Minister to improve the offer made to teachers, to halt the decline in real terms pay and address the recruitment and retention crisis in our classrooms.’
