Civil servants turn down 4%

Wednesday 15th October 2008, 2:29PM BST.

THE island’s 1,700 civil servants look set to reject a 4% pay offer.

Ed Freestone (pictured), the president of the Guernsey Association of Civil Servants, a branch of the Prospect union, said executive members had voted unanimously to reject the Public Sector Remuneration Committee’s offer and it would now be balloting members.

‘We discussed the offer and felt that it was unacceptable so it was decided to ballot the members accordingly,’ he said. ‘We hope that members will express their views clearly by saying yes or no to the offer.’

He was unable to say what might happen next, but said the executive was not aware of any willingness on the part of its members to accept a below-RPI rise.

‘We agree we are in a difficult time and we are not asking for a pay rise, but only to mark time.’