Assistant to the Chief Minister Ian Gorst said it was disappointing that the Transport and General Workers Union members had voted for industrial action at this point in negotiations.
He said that a meeting of the Manual Workers Joint Council was scheduled for this Thursday and that the union had requested that pay talks go on the agenda.
Last Thursday week about 300 union members overwhelmingly backed a proposal for a secret ballot on industrial action to be held when they attended a mass meeting at the Town Hall.
Deputy Gorst said: ‘I think it is recognised that the States and parish manual workers have good terms and conditions of employment and that the employer is trying to keep spending within limits agreed by the States.’ The union members recently rejected a 2.4% pay offer from the employers’ side.
They are seeking an increase of 3.4% – 1% higher than the relevant inflation figure – an extra day’s annual leave and a one-hour reduction in the working week.
