Pay negotiations halted amid coronavirus crisis

The Policy & Resources committee have met over the weekend to consider their approach to pay negotiations across all pubic sector employees given the Covid-19 situation.

Three pay groups have negotiations outstanding from 2019 – Agenda for Change (AfC), JESCC and Teachers and Lecturers. Therefore, the Committee, acting on its mandate for employment related matters, has decided to implement pay awards based on the latest offers made in respect of 2019.

Given the exceptional and unprecedented circumstances, all negotiations for 2020 and future years are now being paused given the enormity of potential and unquantified demands on public funding.

P&R has agreed that all staff in the Agenda for Change pay group, which includes nurses and other health care professionals, will receive a 5% pay increase effective from January 2019, and a further 5% increase with effect from September 2019.

This means those staff will see their salaries increase by slightly over 10% and back pay will be processed immediately.

The Royal College of Nursing had previously rejected this offer and an independent disputes officer was brought in to try to resolve the issue of pay.

Pay awards are also being made for JESCC staff with effect from 1 October 2019 and Teachers and Lecturers with effect from 1 September 2019.

P&R president Deputy Gavin St Pier said even before the coronavirus crisis had arrived in the island, the States had publicly recognised the need for nurses to receive a pay increase above those awarded to other public sector employees.

'However, the ramifications of Covid-19 are likely to continue to have serious implications for public finances and on individual households. We want to get the back pay into pay packets as quickly as possible, especially for the AfC group.

'Some will have partners whose own income may have become less certain. A lot is going to be asked of the AfC group in the weeks ahead and it’s not fair that they should wait any longer.

'Businesses are already turning to the States of Guernsey for financial support. Many islanders are understandably worried about their jobs and worried what that will mean for their families.

'All pay discussions for 2020 are therefore being put on hold in light of the unprecedented uncertainty faced by the Guernsey community during the ongoing coronavirus crisis until we better understand the final cost of managing this crisis.'

He said the door was not being closed on dialogue around the potential further pay increases for Agenda for Change staff in 2021, but it would be irresponsible to make any commitment now with the community facing this threat.

'We must realise that our entire economy and public finances may look very different in 2021 and, as a result, we make no apology for taking this stance on our pay and negotiations right across the public sector in the public interest.'

P&R member Jonathan Le Tocq has a responsibility for employment matters and said a line must be drawn under negotiations until further notice given the situation.

'We hope our employees understand and are with us and their colleagues in all areas of the public sector, as well as with the wider community. Many public sector workers have already gone above and beyond as we face the threat of COVID-19. And we cannot thank them enough.'

On Friday 20 March the RCN expressed anger, saying the pay negotiations had 'broken down' following a positive start at the end of February.

Last week the College confirmed that they would not call nurses to strike whilst the threat of COVID-19 remained present.

RCN regional director Patricia Marquis said the lack of progress was devastating for members and believed they had been 'strung along by the States for so long'.

'At a time when they will be called upon like never before this is a complete kick in the teeth.

'If it were not for Covid-19 we would absolutely be calling the nurses to strike next week.

'The States should make no mistake, once the threat from Covid-19 has passed, our members will walk out.'

Appreciating that the pandemic puts numerous stakeholders in a terrible position, Mrs Marquis said now more than ever she expected the States to recognise the value of nurses and put 'some form of commitment in place to support them'.

'Nurses who are stepping up should not be stepped upon and we will continue out fight once this crisis is over.'