Education cuts to fund teacher wage increase under new government pay offer
Jersey teachers have today received a revised pay offer from the States Employment Board (SEB).
For the first time, it involves a pay increase based on "efficiencies and savings" made to education.
If agreed, a review will take place looking into where cuts could be made. This will start immediately and be completed by 1 December 2019.
The revised final pay offer includes the following:
2018 – consolidated increase to salaries of 2%, with effect from 1 January 2018. A further one-off unconsolidated payment of 1.1% of salaries to be made. These payments have already been implemented.
2019 – consolidated increase to salaries of 2% with effect from 1 January 2019. A further one-off unconsolidated payment of 1% of salaries to be made. These payments have already been implemented.
2020 – a guaranteed consolidated increase to salaries of the September 2019 Retail Prices (All-Items) Index plus 1.3%. RPI is currently forecast to be 3.1%, meaning that this increase, payable from 1 January 2020, would be 4.4%. However, the actual RPI figure will be used, which may be higher or lower.
As part of the plans for the 2020 pay offer, a further consolidated increase has been promised.
The SEB says this will be funded by "genuine and new efficiencies and savings". This would see salaries increase by a minimum of 0.8% from January 2020.
In the States Assembly this afternoon, the Chief Minister made this statement:
The SEB says it hopes the teaching unions will consult with their members ahead of the summer break, and suspend all industrial action.
Additional points from the pay offer:
The development of an Assistant Head Teacher role
The introduction of a higher level Teacher Assistant role
Recognition of the need to progress training and professional development
Development of a health and well-being programme for teachers
Exploring ways to give new teachers coming to Jersey 'key worker' status