Guernsey’s Policy and Resources Committee has made its final decisions on 2020 and 2021 pay for all public sector employees.
Many of the 2020 pay awards were agreed by the previous Committee earlier this year, however, outstanding pay discussions were all paused soon after the pandemic arrived in Guernsey and the government focused on its emergency COVID-19 response. The new Policy & Resources Committee has now agreed the 2020 pay for outstanding groups, as well as the 2021 awards for all groups.
All employees will see increases for 2020, most of those in line with inflation, with a few exceptions. One of these exceptions is the Agenda for Change staff (health and care staff including nurses and midwives), where the previous Committee had already implemented a 5% increase (following a 5% increase for 2019).
For 2021, most employees will not see an increase, again with some exceptions. Agenda for Change staff will see a further 5% increase. The ‘Public Sector Employees’ pay group, which includes many of the States lowest paid staff such as manual workers, will also see an increase of 2.4%.
The Committee is acutely aware, and deeply thankful, to all public sector staff across all groups who this year have gone above and beyond in exceptional circumstances. All have had key roles to play in delivering the Bailiwick’s COVID-19 response which has so far been extremely successful with Guernsey having kept the pandemic under control and ending the year in an excellent position compared to many other jurisdictions. However, the Committee is having to also take stock of the impact the pandemic has had on the economy and on public finances, where there are big deficits forecast for this year and next. In such difficult economic times, it simply is not possible to award any more than the Committee has agreed.
The Committee is hopeful that all public staff and their union representatives will recognise these financial challenges and how quickly circumstances have changed as a result of the pandemic. It hopes the community will also recognise that in freezing pay for the majority of staff in 2021 it is showing appropriate restraint regarding public sector pay costs.
Deputy David Mahoney, who leads on the States’ role as employer for the Policy and Resources Committee, said: “We are in a period that is already having a serious impact on public finances, and there is more uncertainty ahead as we cannot know for sure how long we will be dealing with the pandemic and its long-term repercussions on our economy and the global economy. We need to recognise that as things stand currently, we are spending more than we can afford, and we cannot allow those costs to continue to rise.
“The decisions made by the Committee reflect the real-world situation where cost control is more vital than ever. We believe we are being firm but realistic in what we’ve agreed in terms of pay. While some may be disappointed, I would hope most would understand the position in which we find ourselves, and I hope none of our public sector staff consider for one moment that we are not incredibly grateful for what they have achieved this year. Across all areas, the performance in stepping up to meet this pandemic and protect our community has been exemplary.”
