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1240/5(5345)
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE CHIEF MINISTER
BY DEPUTY G.P. SOUTHERN OF ST. HELIER ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 11th MAY 2010
Question
"Will the Chief Minister inform members of the terms of the new Voluntary Redundancy (VR) package to be applied to public sector workers and state how it differs from the previous scheme and how it compares with the new statutory redundancy terms soon to come into force in the Island?
Will the Chief Minister state why public sector union representatives have not been consulted over the drafting of the revised VR terms and at what stage is it intended to consult them?
When public sector terms and conditions are investigated as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review at what stage does the Minister intend to consult with union representatives?
Will the Chief Minister assure members that he will properly seek agreement with employee representatives before bringing any proposals to the States for ratification?"
Answer
- There is no new Voluntary Redundancy package being applied to public sector workers. The States Employment Board (SEB) recently reviewedthe current terms(introducedin1995),andagreedtokeep them until theendof 2010.
- Senior union representatives were advised in writing on30th March 2010 telling them that the existingVR terms will bereviewed at the end of the year but will applyas currently stated untilthen. The unions will be consulted onany proposed changes once the SEB has considered this further later in the year.
- A high leveldraftof the TermsofReferencehas been shared with theunionsand the ToR are now being workedup in more detail. It isexpected that the person appointedtoconduct the review of public sector terms and conditions of service will consult with employee representatives, as one of the stakeholdergroups, in order to elicit theirviews of theirmembers' terms andconditions of service. I thinkitisalsoimportant to point out that anintegral part of all the 2 year payagreements that pay groupshavesignedup to is that they have agreed to cooperate with the comprehensive review ofpay and conditions of service in the public service.
- I can assure Members that the StatesEmploymentBoard will do all it can to seekagreement with employee representatives concerning any proposed revisions to public sector terms and conditions of service that emanate from the reviewof public sector termsand conditions ofservice.However I would advise the Deputy that provided any changes are within theresources approved by the States and donotconflict with any other States policies it would benotbeappropriatefor the States to beaskedto ratify any changes.