Public sector pay agreed but 'not gone far enough'

Public sector employees in Guernsey have agreed a pay increase, but a trade union has said it does not go far enough.

Unite the Union, representing public sector employees (PSEs) in jobs across the island including hospital porters, sewage cart drivers and airport staff, said it balloted members on offers which varied across pay bands and they were accepted by 66% of those who voted.

The employer's offer was a 5% increase for Grade A staff, 4.4% for Grade B and 4% for Grade C, while Grade Ds were offered 3.7%.

Deputy Yvonne Burford, Policy and Resources Committee Vice-President and resources lead, said she was "pleased" the pay offer had been accepted by public service employees.

Laura Bichard, regional officer for the union, said she had written to the States to "formally advise them of the outcome" and ask for an expected implementation date for the offer, which will impact about 800 workers.

However, she said the offer - after "eight months of delays" by the States - followed evidence from the union which it claimed showed pay levels did not meet the cost of living in Guernsey.

Bichard acknowledged a "step had been taken" by the States to address this but added: "I don't believe it's gone far enough."

The offer means staff on a mid range Grade D salary will receive about £680 a week, she said, while those in the middle of Grade A will be paid about £550 a week.

Bichard added: "It brings them closer to covering the cost of basic living, however I don't believe it's an adequate income based on the cost of living in Guernsey - they are still among the lowest paid on this island."

She said she did not believe those on the lower end of the pay scale would now be able to afford "anything above basic living needs".

Burford said: "This set of negotiations has been more complicated than usual as there have been several factors unique to PSEs.

"To date all but one pay group has now accepted this pay award for the 2026 cycle, accounting for 99% of the public sector workforce."

She said Unite confirmed the ballot had been accepted by their members and such steps were being taken to begin the implementation of the pay award in the next available pay run.

Burford added: "The Committee is grateful to Unite and its PSE members for their contributions to what we believe was a productive and meaningful negotiation process with officers."

Meanwhile, negotiations between Unite Guernsey and the States continue over prison staff pay.

In May 2026, health agreed a 3.7% pay increase with the Policy and Resources Committee (P&R).

Health workers had requested a 5.7% increase but accepted the lower rate in line with annual inflation.

Firefighters also received rises under the agreement, which were "the same value for 2026 as those who agreed two-year deals in 2025", P&R said.

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