Teachers’ union wants States to apologise for Mahoney comments
A LEADING teachers’ union has accused a senior politician of showing ‘utter contempt’ for the profession and demanded an apology.
The NASUWT wants the States to say sorry for comments made by Policy & Resources’ employment lead David Mahoney at a pay tribunal earlier this week.
Defending the States’ three-year pay offer – which was later fully backed by the tribunal – Deputy Mahoney said employees were ‘able to leave if they don’t like it’.
‘Deputy Mahoney’s inflammatory comment shows utter contempt for dedicated teachers and the States should apologise and withdraw those remarks immediately,’ said Dr Patrick Roach, the union’s general secretary.
After the tribunal hearing, Deputy Mahoney said he feared that unions may have taken his comment out of context and assured teachers that they were valued by the States.
About 600 teachers lost their claim for a more generous pay award when the tribunal ruled that the States’ offer – an increase of 5% plus £500 for last year, an increase of 7% this year and an increase of 1% below inflation next year – was ‘legitimate and justifiable’.
They had asked the tribunal for 2% more than the States offered for 2022 and 2% above inflation in 2023 and 2024.
Under industrial disputes legislation, the tribunal’s award is binding on teachers and the States, but Dr Roach said his members would maintain their claim for a better pay deal.
‘The tribunal’s judgement will not end this dispute. Our dispute with the States continues,’ he said.
‘The NASUWT is deeply disappointed that the tribunal has ignored the clear evidence that was put before them and found entirely in favour of the States.
‘This decision will do nothing to resolve the collective grievance of our members nor restore the confidence and morale of teachers.’
Unions and the States clashed over the accuracy of various data presented at the tribunal hearing. Dr Roach said the tribunal’s ruling suggested that it had misunderstood some of the issues at stake.
‘The tribunal has taken at face value the flawed data submitted by the Sates while admitting that they had reached their decision without a full understanding of the union’s position,’ he said.
Following the tribunal Deputy Mahoney issued a statement saying that teachers were deeply valued and they had been offered a 'very fair offer' from the States.
'It is ultimately taxpayers’ money that we use to pay the salaries of all public sector employees and we need to strike the right balance. This offer is one all other unions, representing all other pay groups, have accepted,' he said.
