Guernsey nurses threaten industrial action if negotiation deadline is not met

Nurses in Guernsey could start industrial action if a dispute over pay is not resolved this week.

The Royal College of Nursing say their members will act if the current stalemate over negotiations is not broken by Friday.

Unions are demanding that their wages are brought in-line with other public sector workers. They say say their pay has fallen behind that of other public sector professionals in Guernsey and is significantly lower than those in similar roles in Jersey.

In August, a petition by the Royal College of Nursing was handed in to the States calling for a pay rise of 10% and at the weekend, hundreds of nurses joined a march through the streets of St Peter Port calling for equal pay for equal work.

Juliana Ferreira, who works the Princess Elizabeth Hospital, was among those who demonstrated outside the States Chamber as deputies arrived for the States meeting.

Nurses demonstrated outside the States Chamber as deputies arrived for the States meeting. Credit: ITV Channel TV

Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq, from the States' Policy and Resources Committee, criticised the RCN for not balloting its membership on the pay offer.

In a statement from the Policy and Resources Committee, they say they are hoping to meet with unions to try and get to a solution.

There are concerns about the possible impact of strikes with Deputy Heidi Soulsby, the President of Guernsey's Health Committee, worried that operations could be cancelled if the pay dispute is not resolved.