Posted 03 October 2019 - 14:11
Posted 03 October 2019 - 14:11
News
RCN condemns ‘insulting’ 5% pay offer for Guernsey nurses
College will ballot members on whether to accept or reject the offer
College will ballot members on whether to accept or reject the offer
‘Divisive and insulting’ is how the RCN has described a new 5% pay offer from the Guernsey government.
The college, which has been campaigning for a 10% pay rise for nurses on the island, condemned the new two-year offer put to union negotiators on Monday.
Different wage increase offered to different nurse bands
The revised offer comprises a:
- 5% increase to all pay scales and allowances for all nurses from 1 January 2019 for a one-year period
- 5% increase to all pay scales and allowances for up to and including band 7 nurses, and a 3% increase for nurses above band 7, from 1 January 2020 for a one-year period
But the RCN, which represents most nurses who work in the Channel Island’s state healthcare system, says a 10% pay rise would bridge the gap between nurses and other civil servants on the island.
RCN South East convenor Kenny Lloyd said: ‘After five months of asking, we were delighted to finally get some meaningful talks arranged.
‘The talking has been less than meaningful, though, and the offer is not only divisive, it is insulting.
‘After all of our efforts, this is, frankly, insulting – and I am disappointed that we can’t go back to our members with something more positive.’
Guernsey pay is far below that of neighbouring island
A newly qualified band 5 nurse on Guernsey currently receives a starting salary of £26,404, lagging behind counterparts on neighbouring Jersey, where a new nurse starts on £39,175. In England, the entry-level salary is £24,214.
Hundreds of nurses took to the streets of Guernsey’s capital, Saint Peter Port, last month to protest about pay.
The RCN says it will ballot members on whether to accept or reject the offer.
Government says progress has been made in pay talks
Following the meeting on Monday, the States of Guernsey policy and resources committee said it believed talks had been ‘constructive’ and felt that progress had been made.
However, a States of Guernsey spokesperson declined to comment on the subsequent remarks made by Mr Lloyd.
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