States and Parish Manual Workers demand 7%

[Jason the Maverick]

States and parish manual workers have submitted a seven per cent pay claim for the year ahead.

The T & G Unite union has submitted the claim on behalf of its 1,500 public-sector members and has also asked for a one-hour reduction in the working week to 37 hours to achieve parity with civil servants.

The union is also seeking an extra two days’ paid leave for workers who have achieved 25 years’ service in recognition of their loyalty. The public-sector pay year runs from 1 June to 31 May and the union is seeking a one-year deal.

Civil Servants have accepted an offer of 3.2 per cent, equivalent to the inflation figure at the end of March. The States police have accepted the same deal as civil servants, as have prison officers. However, in the case of prison officers they would be open to renegotiate if the majority of other States pay groups gained a higher settlement.

T & G Unite regional organiser Nick Corbel said that they had submitted the seven per cent claim on the back of rising prices, adding that mortgage interest rates had increased and there had also been hikes in the price of oil and other fuel.

So we as tax payers have to provide for this?  If I get 7% this year I will be over the moon.

[Deputy Dawg]

T & G Unite regional organiser Nick Corbel said that they had submitted the seven per cent claim on the back of rising prices, adding that mortgage interest rates had increased and there had also been hikes in the price of oil and other fuel.

How come States manual workers can afford to purchase houses? I work in finance and I can't afford even a 1 bedroom flat, also we got a 2.5% pay increase due to the rising costs making it too dificult to pay as much.

Come on, if any of them had to do an honest days work they would soon be happy with what they have and take the same % as everyone else. As for the extra hour, that probably makes up for the tea breaks, coffee breaks, fag breaks, watch the other bloke work while leaning on your shovel breaks among many many many more that they get away with while still being paid.

[Terminator 4]

Mortgage interest rates have gone down!  dropped from 5.75% to 5% FFS!

7%, what is Nick Corbel going on about?  We are trying to get states expenditure down FFS!

I hope they throw this out.

[en830]

But isn't it only .8% in real term, 3.20 RPI and 3% GST

[Terminator 4]

Nick Corbel is always hounding the States for more money, better this, better that, better everything.

He gets on my nerves.  If you work in the Private sector you take what you get and if you don't like it you eat humble pie.

[Deputy Dawg]

But isn't it only .8% in real term, 3.20 RPI and 3% GST

You have to take GST out of the equation because it will filter into the RPI at a later stage, so if you gave them what they want now, the next time there is a cost of living increase it will also include GST within the RPI and be 5 or  6% (at current levels) and so they will then want this increase therefore getting a much bigger increase than anyone in the private sector or indeed more than they should actually be asking for. Couple this with less hours per week and more holidays, and it's taking the proverbial.

[Jason the Maverick]

You are right, what they are basically asking for would be laughed at by the powers in charge at my firm.

In fact I bet they would turn around and tell me to go and find another job.

Maybe it is time we got rid of union powers in Jersey?  Whenever they strike without notice everybody else suffers.  Too many demands and not enough vision.

[danrok]

Nick Corbel is always hounding the States for more money, better this, better that, better everything.

He gets on my nerves.  If you work in the Private sector you take what you get and if you don't like it you eat humble pie.

He only acts as a spokesman for the members.  The members vote on what they want, and Nick Corbel simply passes information on to the press.  He has no power to make demands of his own.

[danrok]

How come States manual workers can afford to purchase houses? I work in finance and I can't afford even a 1 bedroom flat, also we got a 2.5% pay increase due to the rising costs making it too dificult to pay as much.

Typical wages must vary between £400 to £600 per week, depending on whether they're a labourer or tradesman.

They may be able to afford a house because they took out a mortgage a long time ago, or their spouse may earn more.

[Chief Minister]

I will settle for £400.00 a week with rent paid and no tax.  Spend all day in the park.

[Terminator 4]

Yer, so will I.

[Pomme de terre]

But isn't it only .8% in real term, 3.20 RPI and 3% GST

No because, for a start, GST is not charged on everyone's biggest bill: accomodation.

[White Knight]

That is why you should join a union and then you won't have to eat humble pie. The workers are only asking for their just rights but because it happens to come in this recession it looks bad to ask for 7%, at any other time no one would make anything out of it. Why should they not have the same working hours as the civil servant. Also you try working all day on a shovel and see how long you last. H&S have rules about having breaks when doing heavy manual work, just like using a computer, you i supposed to have a break every hour for approx. 10 mins. That is my thought on the subject. Do not forget how the States throw the money away without a blink!

[ageofaquarius]

Quite right white knight, my partner is a manual worker and I a civil servant both working 37hrs. I sit behind a computer most of the time and its a tiring and demanding job, he works out in all weathers doing dirty dangerous work that takes know how and engineering skills, why shouldn't he get paid decently for it!  TLS sent us all an email to today informing us that no money this year, that I guess means not even a cost of living, but everythng has gone up! how is that fair?  we don't all lean on shovels or take endless tea breaks.

[mpwpj]

...how is that fair?...

What do you mean by fair though? I work in the private sector and will not be getting a pay rise either... but I do more hours, with greater responsibility than a States road sweeper for considerably less money.  Not to mention the lack of job security, and holidays etc.

There was a comment earlier in the thread saying that people wouldn't bat an eyelid at a 7% claim if it wasn't a recession; well it is a recession, and comment like that show how little understanding some people have... yet if you join a union you don't need to really understand the issues because 10,000 voices shouting get heard, over 10 talking sense.