TWO teaching unions have warned they could launch co-ordinated strike action in the new school year if the long-running pay dispute is not resolved.
Last week hundreds of members of the NEU walked out for one day and staged a protest in the Royal Square after talks with the States Employment Board collapsed.
Now the NASUWT, whose members are currently ‘working to rule’, has said it is poised to escalate its action unless its demands are met.
The unions have both rejected a 7.9% pay deal and called for a 15.4% pay rise to address what they say has been a real-terms pay cut over the last 15 years.
Marina Mauger, a representative of the NASUWT, said: ‘We have said no to arbitration and have asked the SEB to consider more negotiations or further mediation.
‘We don’t want to escalate our action – no teacher wants to disrupt a child’s education – but if we have to, then we will.
‘We have already balloted on both action short of a strike, and a strike, and members have voted in favour of both. At the moment we have only gone for action short of a strike but striking is a possibility.
‘We will do everything we can to avoid it, but if we do strike we will co-ordinate with the NEU.’
Following last Wednesday’s strike, which closed 90% of schools, the NASUWT joined the NEU and National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) in talks with the SEB.
But Mrs Mauger said that pay was not discussed, and that talks centred on the ongoing recruitment challenges facing the industry.
‘We don’t feel like we are making any progress with the SEB,’ she said.
‘We had a meeting with them after the [NEU] strike but the only thing we talked about was setting up working parties on recruitment and retention.’
She added: ‘I don’t think people realise how bad the recruitment problems are. Teachers are leaving and it is very difficult to get supply teachers. Classes are being split because there are not enough teachers, so a teacher that has 22 pupils may end up with 34.
‘Jersey is a very nice place to live but I am afraid that is not enough to attract teachers any more, because they see the cost of living and decide against coming here.’
Nick Childs, senior regional officer for the NEU, which has already warned of the possibility of further strike action in the new school year, confirmed that the union would be co-ordinating action with the NASUWT.
The SEB declined to comment.
