Public servants’ pension dispute heading to hearing
A long-running pensions dispute involving dozens of long-serving public servants will finally be put before an industrial disputes hearing later this month, with the States potentially facing a massive bill if the verdict goes in favour of employees.
The Guernsey Police Association, and the ‘Group of 50’ – an unidentified cohort of senior civil servants – will argue that, as their employer, the States changed final pension schemes without their consent.
An award in their favour could then apply to many other current and past States employees, substantially increasing pension and payroll costs, with taxpayers ultimately funding the final bill.
The hearing is due to take place over four days, from Monday 24 to Thursday 27 March at the Peninsula Hotel.
The dispute dates back to 2016 when a number of police officers, firefighters and a selection of civil servants challenged the States after they changed public sector pension rights following negotiations with staff and unions.
In 2022 then States industrial disputes officer Stuart Le Maitre referred their complaints to an industrial dispute tribunal hearing, much to the frustration of the States, which sought judicial review of his decision.
The Royal Court ruled that while complaints by the GPA and Group of 50 could proceed to tribunal, the Association of Guernsey Firefighters could not, as they were represented by trade union Unite.
Mr Le Maitre tendered his resignation as IDO in 2021 for reasons he said were unconnected to the dispute, but his departure was stayed, pending conclusion of the judicial review.
This month’s hearing is to be chaired by independent barrister Professor Roy Lewis.
This is not the first time Professor Lewis has chaired industrial tribunals in Guernsey having led the panel in 2023 when teaching unions lost their claim for a more generous pay award, and again in 2024 when lecturers from the College of Further Education lost a pay dispute.
In December 2022, Policy & Resources said they expected the industrial disputes tribunal process to commence early in 2023.
Professor Lewis said there had been nothing exceptional in the timeline in this case and it was therefore now proceeding to a final hearing in the usual fashion.
‘In all industrial disputes tribunal cases there are generally preliminary procedures undertaken to ensure that all issues in the case are identified and addressed,’ he said.
‘The time required for these procedures will vary considerably from case to case.’
