Public sector pay deal could be completed before year end

Talks between the States and its employees have only just started, despite most unions responding to a request to submit claims in April or May.

Some unions said three months ago that time was already running out to agree a new pay deal before the current three-year agreement ends in December.

But Deputy John Gollop, employment lead for the Policy & Resources Committee, believes a new deal could be struck with the States’ 5,000 employees inside the next three months.

‘This is achievable if momentum can be maintained, which is a matter dependent on both parties,’ he said.

‘The committee would like to see all staff in receipt of their negotiated awards as soon as practicable.

‘But the timing is dependent on the progress of pay talks, which involve other parties, meaning that the exact timing of any pay deals is not entirely in its control.’

Although P&R representatives have held meetings with several unions, they are yet to start talks with others, including some of those with the largest membership.

The States’ first meeting with teachers and lecturers, one of the largest pay groups and the last to have its current deal settled, was held only last Monday.

‘Pay talks have commenced with most groups and further talks are scheduled for the coming weeks.

‘They have so far been positive and helpful,’ said Deputy Gollop.

The current pay deal provided all public sector workers with increases of 5% plus £500 in 2022, 7% last year, and 5.8% at the start of this year, which was 1% below the annual rate of inflation at the time the calculation was made.

But the deal had to be backdated after negotiations ran behind schedule.

Most pay groups, including nurses, manual workers and civil servants, did not settle until 2023, and teachers and lecturers took their claim to a tribunal.

The NASUWT, which represents teachers, said it had a ‘constructive’ first meeting with the States to discuss the 2025 pay award.

‘While we hope that an agreement will be in place by the implementation date of 1 January, that ball is firmly in P&R’s court,’ said press and media officer Lena Davies.

Paul Montague of the NEU, which also represents teachers, said its members were left ‘disappointed and frustrated’ by the outcome of last year’s tribunal, at which they explained that pay settlements had not always kept pace with inflation in recent years, and warned that ‘recruitment and retention of teachers continue to be real problems in Guernsey’.

He said that it was too early to comment on the latest round of talks.

The negotiations with each employee group are being led by Deputy Gollop as the committee member responsible for employee relations. He said that the committee was continuing to use a ‘tried and tested approach’.

He said it would be ‘premature’ to say whether P&R was open to a multi-year pay deal, as adopted by its predecessor committee for the period 2022-24.

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