THE CHIEF Minister has apologised for a social media post which ‘resulted in an unnecessary escalation in tensions’ with teaching unions.
Deputy Kristina Moore, who is chair of the States Employment Board, further expressed her ‘regret’ during yesterday morning’s States Assembly sitting that schools were closed for the second time this year due to strike action – while teachers looked on from the gallery.
She said: ‘I am disappointed that schools are closed, children are missing out on education, and that family life is disrupted, which has an impact on productivity and our economy.’
Earlier this week, the government was accused of deliberately inciting division on social media over the teacher strikes – while the Assistant Chief Minister Andy Jehan, who leads pay negotiations, was criticised by a union leader for comments described as ‘inflammatory’ and ‘insulting’ to teachers.
Comments from Mr Jehan were accompanied by a number of ‘teacher strike facts’ about salaries, which were questioned by States members.
Now, under scrutiny from Reform Jersey Deputy Sam Mézec, Deputy Moore said: ‘I regret that the social media post was not specifically authorised or approved by a minister when published on Facebook. The information had been used earlier that day and sent to media outlets and approved for those purposes alone. We therefore considered that the information was accurate, but it shouldn’t have been used on social media at the time or in the way it was.
‘We all get things wrong, and when we do it’s important to be clear, honest and open.
‘I apologise for this, particularly at a time when the SEB was involved in direct and constructive talks with the union, and I accept that this resulted in an unnecessary escalation in tensions.
‘Myself and the vice-chair were deeply disappointed by the social media post.’
In response to questions from Deputy Lyndsay Feltham on what action had been taken to prevent the strikes, Deputy Moore said: ‘The SEB has authorised its officers to continue in discussions for resolution of the pay dispute with school leaders and government.
‘Throughout the dispute period, we have offered conciliation talks facilitated by JACS and we continue to offer arbitration with an independent third party.’
After a meeting on Friday night, she said that the NASUWT had pulled out of the strikes, but ‘NEU did not agree to terms of withdrawing strike action and were offered arbitration’. Deputy Moore continued: ‘Again, they said no’, referring to a recent case in Guernsey where this was settled by a tribunal. She further said that the NAHT received a ‘revised offer’ which was ‘amended but rejected yesterday afternoon at a meeting that half of their membership attended’.
The Chief Minister added: ‘There is a financial envelope in which we have to find a way forward. We need to balance the books for the public purse alongside meeting the requirements for our staff.’
‘We also have an inflation issue and it’s part of our duty as the government to take a view on inflation and drive down inflation, so that we can support Islanders through the cost of living with all of the levers that we have available to us.
It would be unwise of us to unleash that part of our responsibilities simply to placate one group of greatly valued public service and we have to consider how we continue to balance everything so that move forward and keep everything moving as best as we can.’
