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Submission – Education and Home Affairs Panel Covid-19 Response Review NASUWT
12th May 2020
Dear Deputy Ward and Panel members
Thank you for your invitation to comment on ministerial responses to the Covid 19 situation.
During this unprecedented difficult time the Ministerial responses have been appropriate in the main.
The decision to close schools was timely and organised and we are proud of the response of teachers in supporting partial opening for the children of critical workers and volunteering to continue teaching during the Easter holidays and the upcoming half term. The formation of a safe reopening of schools working party including the relevant trade unions is to be commended.
Financial support to local businesses has prevented many companies from closure and workers from redundancy. This was an immediate response which did much to aid the local population.
The building of the Nightingale Hospital has promoted a very varied response amongst the people of Jersey. However we believe that it was a necessary measure should the spread of Covid 19 been widespread and unfortunately may prove to be needed as lockdown is relaxed and we see an inevitable increased spread of the virus.
Conference calls take place almost daily between trade unions and government officials to discuss the ongoing situation. We are unaware of any other jurisdiction working so closely with unions representing the public sector and input is valued by all parties concerned.
Frequent media briefings by the Chief Minister and colleagues are informative and generally well received.
If there are any points you would like us to comment on more specifically please contact us.
In general we feel the Island has responded well to a crisis that none could foresee or anticipate having to deal with.
Kindest Regards Marina Mauger Negotiating Secretary Jersey NASUWT