TEACHING unions met representatives from the States Employment Board yesterday after a strike and other industrial action closed most Island schools on Wednesday.
Following the meeting, Marina Mauger, of the NASUWT, said it had been agreed to establish working groups to look at the recruitment and retention of staff, but that teachers’ pay had not been discussed.
Mrs Mauger said talks regarding the long-running pay dispute were due to take place prior to the end of the summer term later this month.
The NASUWT and the National Association of Head Teachers have started an indefinite work-to-rule as a result of the pay dispute, while the National Education Union staged a one-day strike on Wednesday.
The government has offered teachers the same 7.9% pay increase accepted by other public servants, but unions say teachers have received a series of below-inflation pay deals, and requested 15.4%, adding 5% to the 10.4% rate of inflation at the time of making their claim.
All three unions have indicated they may strike again after schools return in September if the government’s pay offer is not improved, but ministers have said that no further money is available and that a higher settlement would fuel inflation.
