KEEP away, put your fingers in your ears and sing loudly ‘We are not listening’ was the advice from the outgoing chairman of the Public Sector Remuneration Committee when the Unite union invited States members to attend a meeting.
And, apart from a handful of attendees and a few apologies, the former deputy got his way.
With luck, it was the last death rattle of the non-communicative outgoing States exerting an influence on the members of the new House.
For what was the danger in listening? The new head of the committee, Deputy Al Brouard, saw none. He went to the meeting determined to learn as much as he could about the union’s concerns and to understand its position better.
If Unite’s arguments proved so strong as to be irresistible he would know how weak the States position was as an employer.
If, as is more likely, he spotted a combination of flaws and strengths in the arguments put before him, he will be better equipped around the negotiating table to manoeuvre, compromise and persuade the union to his case.
Rightly, he saw it as a no-lose situation. Would Deputy Brouard have been undermined by other members attending?
He thought not. For any deputy going to the meeting would be unlikely then to publicly argue the union’s case at the expense of the PSRC.
The closed-minded approach of the outgoing chairman is perhaps an indication of why relations with the public sector workers have sunk to such a low that many are keen to embark on strike action.
Indeed, it is only on the advice of the union that industrial action has, so far, been averted. To their credit, they have pressed for continued dialogue.
In that light, what message does it send when deputies en masse turn their backs on the workers’ representatives?
And how much harder will it be for the union to call for restraint at the next Unite pay meeting when their members feel that no one is listening?
By not attending, deputies have made the PSRC’s job more difficult, not easier.
No harm in listening to the workers
KEEP away, put your fingers in your ears and sing loudly ‘We are not listening’ was the advice from the outgoing chairman of the Public Sector Remuneration Committee when the Unite union invited States members to attend a meeting.
And, apart from a handful of attendees and a few apologies, the former deputy got his way.
With luck, it was the last death rattle of the non-communicative outgoing States exerting an influence on the members of the new House.
For what was the danger in listening? The new head of the committee, Deputy Al Brouard, saw none. He went to the meeting determined to learn as much as he could about the union’s concerns and to understand its position better.
If Unite’s arguments proved so strong as to be irresistible he would know how weak the States position was as an employer.
If, as is more likely, he spotted a combination of flaws and strengths in the arguments put before him, he will be better equipped around the negotiating table to manoeuvre, compromise and persuade the union to his case.
Rightly, he saw it as a no-lose situation. Would Deputy Brouard have been undermined by other members attending?
He thought not. For any deputy going to the meeting would be unlikely then to publicly argue the union’s case at the expense of the PSRC.
The closed-minded approach of the outgoing chairman is perhaps an indication of why relations with the public sector workers have sunk to such a low that many are keen to embark on strike action.
Indeed, it is only on the advice of the union that industrial action has, so far, been averted. To their credit, they have pressed for continued dialogue.
In that light, what message does it send when deputies en masse turn their backs on the workers’ representatives?
And how much harder will it be for the union to call for restraint at the next Unite pay meeting when their members feel that no one is listening?
By not attending, deputies have made the PSRC’s job more difficult, not easier.
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