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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE CHIEF MINISTER BY DEPUTY G.P. SOUTHERN OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 17th JULY 2012
Question
Will the Chief Minister inform members what progress, if any, he has made in negotiating a wage agreement with public sector representatives and what schedule of meetings has been arranged in order to try to ensure that agreement is reached by the end of the year?
Will he further state whether he has any indications that agreement can be reached without significant concessions on the employer's part and that action from employees can be avoided?
What success, if any, has the Minister had in communicating his vision in the related topic of modernisation of the public sector workforce?
Answer
The Employer made its final offer to all staff last week after six months of negotiation with all pay groups. The offer is both fair and reasonable recognising the prudence the Employer has to exercise with the pressures on the public purse with the need to support Health and Social care, reduction in unemployment, and stimulus to the economy. I hope public sector employees recognise that the Employer has made a significant movement during the negotiations whilst ensuring that any offer is affordable, sustainable and recognises the important contribution of public sector staff. The Employer will continue to hold meetings with pay groups as needed.
The Employer believes its offer is such that there is no reason for public sector staff to consider action which clearly would disadvantage many Islanders. The Employer has made its offer recognising the economic climate both in the Island and in the wider global context from which the public sector is not immune.
The Acting Chief Executive will be meeting public sector trade unions on 18th July 2012 to initiate discussions and engagement. I am certain this will be the first of many meetings and discussions in the coming months and years when we can work in partnership with Trade Union colleagues in the development of the public sector reform agenda.
As part of this dialogue with staff, the Acting Chief Executive and I will be conducting staff forums in the autumn to ascertain and listen to the views of staff, again as an early consultation on the opportunities public sector reform offers for them and the Island.