PSRC and union coy on pay deal
Saturday 24th January 2009, 9:29AM GMT.
POLITICIANS responsible for negotiating what looks set to be an inflation-busting pay deal for States employees yesterday refused to explain why they had done so.
Public Sector Remuneration Committee chairman Deputy Al Brouard (pictured) would not take Guernsey Press questions on the issue, which looks certain to cost taxpayers dearly.
And his department admitted that a release last December on the settlement was unclear about the details of the package.
Union officials whose members are likely to see rises later this year well in excess of the current 1.2% RPI figure were also reluctant to discuss why they insisted on a 3% minimum rise while apparently accepting the need for restraint.
The normally-affable Frank Allen, national secretary for Prospect, became heated when asked if he would be looking to renegotiate a lower settlement that took into account the ‘commitment’ to restraint.
Civil servants and police officers are set to be the main beneficiaries of the deal, which comes as Guernsey’s RPI figure is at an all-time low of 1.2% – and looks likely to fall further during the next quarter.
- To read Guernsey Press stories in full click here for subscription details. Individual editions are now available online.
Campaigns
Voice For Victims
Voice for Victims is a campaign aimed at promoting the rights of those affected by child sexual abuse.
This is Guernsey
Guernsey Press
Inflation running at 1.2%, don’t make me laugh.
The only reason R.P.I. “figure” is down is because the bank of england has dropped its headline rate, unfortunately the actual mortgage rate paid by the majority of people has changed very little, most lenders have a lower limit of 3% on variable mortgages, and 80% of mortgagees are still stuck on fixed rates around 5-6%.
Housing prices are stil astronomical, as are private rents.
Civil servents are not all on 50K plus per year the large majority are on far less. 3% far from being exessive is only going to see lower graded civil servants struggling to meet their daily living expenses. And no I am not a civil servant,nor am I related to any, but I do know a few. If you need to pick on someone try those so called professionals and traders on this Island who continually rip off the lower paid, and pensioners with grossly inflated charges and prices, anybody needed the services of a lawyer, doctor, architect, builder, plumber or electrician,lately. or tried to buy electronics or even Childrens clothing locally. Its time to realign the income of average joe with the professional as the gap is now becoming unacceptable
Alan
Report abuse
Let’s be fair about this.
It is a done deal that seemed OK at the time, and really good when the previous quarters inflation rates were published.
A tad unfair to blame the PSRC.
Report abuse
If you have any business sense, you will never agree to, fixed prices, unless you get a guarantee from your suppliers.
This provisional guarantee must be over a 12 month period, and must be reliant on your supplier being able to keep that price.
Business is tough if you make mistakes, you either lose you job or your company.
For such a basic stupid costly error, they should all have the decency to resign.
Report abuse
Coy – embarassed I should think especially considering their gold plated pensions.
Report abuse
Many in the private sector (far more than the 3000 states employees) have had well above inflation rises over the past years (even more, when their bonuses are taken into account). Why can’t the public sector workers, many of whom are far more qualified and on less pay than those in the financial sector have some recompense?
The PSCR and unions negociated the deal in good faith, and it should be upheld.
I love the sour grapes comments those in the private sector have and will continue to provide.
Report abuse
Our leader the great Lyndon Trott said last term he was “not the cost cutting” type despite cutting £100m plus from corporate income tax to “remain competitive” with other offshore jurisdictions”. Doesn’t add up does it?
In order for Gsy to sustain its empire building of the public sector, import and house all their burgeoning staff, something has to give.
When Deputies voted for the give-away-to-foreigners, fleece the locals Deputy Trott in as their leader they knew EXACTLY what they were getting.
The States are wholly responsible for living on another planet in these increasingly hard times. And London is up the creek without a paddle which has already had impacts on Gsy.
Our deputies are very welcome to keep awarding their favourite staff above inflation pay rises and sustaining their empires without any sense of realism or fiscal discipline.
Just don’t expect the citizens of this island who are being fleeced by ever higher taxes to sustain Deputies irresponsible decisions to look kindly on this attempt to bankrupt the island as quickly as possible
Report abuse
JohnnyB,
The citizens of this island are not being fleeced by higher taxes to sustain the public sector, quite the opposite in fact, we are all being fleeced to subsidise the finance industry and keep their overpaid(in many cases)staff in the manner to which they have become accustomed.
Report abuse
Maybe “The normally-affable Frank Allen” is a bit hacked off with constantly being mis-quoted by the press.
Report abuse
The Guernsey Press strikes again. Attacking the Civil Servants and States employees who are gagged and unable respond to the constant Guernsey Press attacks.
Play another record Mr Digard, this one is getting boring.I am not surprised frank Allen is heated with your constant irritation, like a rash that wont go away.
Report abuse
“Power without responsibility – the prerogative of the harlot throughout the ages” – Kipling in conversation with Lord Beaverbrook
Report abuse