This time I’m just going to list some facts and let you decide. In theory no one should be upset with me, the messenger. If you are upset, ask yourself why.
We seem to have been talking about public sector reorganisation, modernisation, and pay for years – without any real long-term solutions being agreed. We now have the very real possibility of public sector strikes. Below I have listed some current job vacancies on the States website, with the salary offered (including the 15.6% employer pension contribution to the generous salary-based schemes). These salaries are paid by the taxpayer.
Senior staff nurse (£44,652), health care assistant (£25,814), community advanced nurse practitioner (£59,357), personal assistant (PA) (£32,235), PA/executive assistant (£35,647), senior customer services adviser (£45,497), crisis worker (£33,599), business planning and performance manager (£81,508), income support senior adviser (£45,497), planner (£35,294), pathology quality manager (£52,727), agriculture and business adviser (£64,723), radiographer (£45,497).
Some of the roles refer to the pay scales, so here is a selection of pay scales. Teacher grade eight: £50,778. A teacher ‘with management responsibilities’ will receive a supplement up to £16,815 on top of basic pay (a good incentive to manage rather than to teach). Police sergeant after three years: £72,888. Qualified firefighter: £45,115. Civil service grade 15: £92,170. Manual worker grade two: £26,293. Support worker grade two: £32,437. Head teacher scale 29: £106,456. Youth worker scale C: £43,636. Unqualified teacher: £35,155. Residential child care officer grade three: £37,015 and, finally, hospital chaplain grade 33: £44,717 (not sure who does the appraisal here).
In addition, there are some oddities. Ambulance managers get £62,530 plus £2,724 per annum as a standby payment in case of a major emergency (you would think this part of the job). Manual workers can get additional payments to cover standby shifts, kitting up supplements (getting dressed), travel time, fuel time (to cover time spent outside working hours filling their work vehicles with fuel), working underground payments, and a first aid supplement. These few random salaries reflect the true employee benefits and true cost to the taxpayer (albeit not including employer Social Security contributions). Draw your own conclusions.
