HUNDREDS of protesters gathered in the Royal Square this afternoon as part of a long-running pay dispute between teachers and the government.
The rally was deliberately scheduled to coincide with this week’s States Assembly sitting, enabling members of both the NEU and the NAHT – who were also striking – to confront Assistant Chief Minister Andy Jehan, the vice-chair of the States Employment Board.
Speaking to the crowd of hundreds, Sam Wharmby, joint branch and district secretary for NEU Jersey, said: ‘I know none of us want to be here at all – this is our last resort.
‘We are here because we value education. Regrettably, the States Employment Board do not value us and in doing so they are de-valuing education.’
NAHT representative Sam Cooper said: ‘What a shame that the Government of Jersey has lost our goodwill and support. What a sad indictment of successive governments and States Employment Boards, that their response to an absolute crisis in recruitment is to cut pay.’
Addressing the crowd – after union representatives encouraged their members to stop heckling him so he could speak – Mr Jehan stressed that both the NEU and NAHT had been offered arbitration.
He said: ‘We are prepared to go to arbitration, binding arbitration, where both sides put their case to an independent person. We would encourage you to support your representatives to take that approach.
‘We are committed to review terms and conditions – that was not part of the pay claim. It was pointed out to us in one of our quarterly meetings with your representatives and we are totally committed to review terms and conditions. Something that should have been done in 2019.’
