Unite regional organiser Ron Le Cras speaking during Monday’s strike. He has said talk of further action is, at this stage, only a rumour. (Picture by John O’Neill, 0609279)
FEARS of further industrial action this weekend have been played down by the union involved in the pay dispute.
There is widespread speculation that States manual workers are planning to stage a second, longer, walkout at the end of this week, with Saturday the most likely day.
But Unite regional organiser Ron Le Cras said further action this week was unlikely. ‘I have only just heard about the rumours,’ he said.
‘We know nothing about it at all. I do not think that is correct. It would be unlikely that that is going to happen.’
About 1,000 workers staged strike action on Monday in protest over the 3% pay increase they received from the States.
The manual workers, who are among the island’s lowest paid, wanted September’s RPI figure of 4.9% plus 3%.
Mr Le Cras met the Public Sector Remuneration Committee on Tuesday and a further meeting is scheduled for today.
It is believed the result of today’s meeting could determine whether workers will take further action.
‘Tuesday’s was an unofficial meeting,’ he said.
‘We had some talks and it would be wrong for me to say anything more at this stage.
‘They didn’t put any offers to us but we are expecting an offer from them on Thursday.’
However, despite Mr Le Cras’ assurances, a representative of a key worker group involved in the dispute said more prolonged strike action was a possibility.
The worker, who asked not to be named, said nothing had been decided officially but claimed both sewage cart drivers and crane operators at the harbour were planning a longer walkout.
‘It was a protest this time but to make an impact they would have to strike for longer. Monday was about proving there was solidarity,’ he said. ‘If workers were going to go again, it would be to make an impact and grind things right down.’
States Works general manager Nigel Dorey said he was unaware of any proposed strikes.
Article posted on 24th July, 2008 - 2.29pm
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