THE new government has expressed a “genuine desire” to resolve the long-running pay dispute with teachers.
Following confirmation of his appointment on Tuesday, Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham provided an update yesterday in response to a call by one of the two main teaching unions for government action.
The National Education Union wrote to Deputy Elaine Millar, who served as vice-chair of the States Employment Board in the previous government, earlier this week.
Deputy Millar was urged by NEU general secretary Rachel Curley to withdraw a letter sent on 11 January in which the government stated its intention to impose its pay offer on all teachers, unless they specifically responded to decline the offer and to remain in dispute.
The offer to teachers, comprising an 8% pay rise for 2024, a one-off payment of £1,000 and rises equivalent to inflation for 2025 and 2026, was narrowly accepted by members of the NASUWT in December, but was rejected by members of the NEU.
In her letter to Deputy Millar, Ms Curley said the NEU did not accept the 11 January letter was lawful, stating that the government’s approach was in breach of Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
NEU members have been advised by their union officials not to respond individually to the government’s letter.
Deputy Farnham, who as Chief Minister chairs the SEB, has yet to confirm who will serve as the group’s vice-chair. Deputy Millar remains a member of the Council of Ministers, having been confirmed as Treasury Minister this week, but it is not known whether she will retain her SEB role.
Deputy Farnham said: “There is a genuine desire by this government to resolve the current teachers’ pay dispute and reset the workplace relationship so that we can move forward.”
Calling for urgent talks with the employer, Ms Curley said the NEU remained willing to negotiate a settlement to the current dispute.
But the NEU official added: “We reserve the right to notify further days of strike action in pursuance of our ongoing trade dispute.” Prior to its members voting to accept the pay offer, the NASUWT had initiated work-to-rule industrial action by its members, while the NEU staged several days of strike action during the autumn term.
