Guernsey Press

P&R’s pay headache will not ease soon

AS the ballot opens this week on whether nurses should take unprecedented industrial action, the message from the other side of the negotiating table couldn’t be clearer – it will achieve nothing.

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The Royal College of Nursing has waged a high profile and well supported campaign in making a bid for better pay. That message is simple, what is less so is squaring just exactly what it is they want and how affordable that is for the public purse.

The union argues for pay parity, but that in itself is somewhat amorphous, amounting in their own reckoning to 20 to 40% extra.

It is important to note that the agenda for change pay group, which includes the nurses, has since 2014 struck pay rises that are consistently in the upper echelons of all public sector groups, including a leading 4.25% hike and a non-pensionable lump sum in 2018.

They are now locked in to an independent pay tribunal which will decide on the 2019 settlement based on the cold hard logic of both sides' arguments, not the amount of placards being held up outside the PEH.

There has until now been significant public sympathy with their case, and an offer which amounts to around 10% is on the table to be taken.

Whatever happens with the industrial action and tribunal, there needs to be a re-calibration of the relationship between the union and Policy & Resources.

The bad blood is more and more apparent with claim and counter-claim being made.

That is good for nobody.

The States has a challenging job on its hands as other pay groups are also holding out on the 2019 deals and the next round of talks should be under way.

In the background is an as yet unpublished review of the disparate terms and conditions of all public sector employees with a view to enabling harmonisation of employment policies, remuneration and benefits.

P&R is still working up its response before publishing it, but the way it is grinding through the system is indicative that this is no simple matter.,

Although we know it will be a costly one.