Unions representing nurses and other health service staff employed by the States on ‘Agenda for Change’ contracts had requested an increase of 5.7%.
But they recently agreed a lower offer from Policy & Resources which was in line with the annual rate of inflation last June and identical to rises already received by thousands of other public sector employees.
The Royal College of Nursing said that its members were now being paid at their new rate and had also received increases accumulated since the start of the year.
‘The 2026 pay consultation was late to start, but I am happy to report that, once underway, it was swift to conclude,’ said Helen Wigginton, regional communications manager at the RCN.
‘Members across all four nursing and midwifery unions accepted the offer and received it in April, together with the back pay.’
Firefighters at the Town station have also agreed a 3.7%, one-year deal backdated to 1 January.
But their union, Unite, said its members were yet to receive the agreed increase and could not be certain when they would.
‘I can confirm that the employer tabled a formal pay offer for Guernsey Fire & Rescue Service of 3.7%, which was subsequently balloted on and accepted by members with a 94% majority,’ said Unite regional officer Laura Bichard.
‘The result of this ballot was formally communicated to the employer on 21 April. However, to date, we are yet to receive confirmation of an implementation date.’
The offer made to health service workers was also put to a ballot.
The RCN said that it was backed by 70% of its members.
The deal increased the lowest entry-level annual salary in the health service to about £26,500 and lifted the typical annual salary of a newly-qualified nurse to about £40,000.
Full-time staff who had worked in the health service for a minimum of 12 months also received an additional one-off loyalty payment of £1,747.
The States’ offer to health service staff on Agenda for Change contracts also included a fresh commitment to accelerate work on the contentious issue of pay parity across the public sector.
Once firefighters at the Town station have received their pay rise, about one in six States employees will remain on last year’s deal and will be without an increase since 1 January 2025.
They vast majority of them are represented by Unite, including traditionally lower-paid public sector roles.
However, one pay group represented by Unite could be on the verge of agreeing a pay deal for this year, as firefighters at the airport are voting this week on an offer received from P&R last week.
Medical consultants at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital are also yet to agree a pay deal for 2026.