No Confidence Vote Pulled

Friday, 31 May 2019 13:32

There will no longer be a vote of no confidence in the States Employment Board.

Deputy Geoff Southern has withdrawn his proposition, that was due to be debated next week.

Deputy Southern has today withdrawn his proposition for a vote of no confidence in the States Employment Board, so it will not now be debated next week.
— States Assembly (@StatesAssembly) May 31, 2019

The Reform politician only lodged the motion just over a week ago, calling the SEB's actions in pay negotiations 'needlessly combative' and arguing that public sector workers have lost trust in the States as an employer.

That led to Deputy Southern being sacked as Assistant Social Security Minister.

SEB Chairman Senator John Le Fondre called the move 'completely unjustified, unnecessary and a distraction to settling the dispute.'

Further negotiations between the SEB and teaching unions took place this morning.

The NASUWT says there still hasn't been a breakthrough and more talks are scheduled for next week.

In a statement published by Reform Jersey, Deputy Southern explains why he decided to withdraw his proposition:

Statement pic.twitter.com/NqOYLW6xNh
— Reform Jersey (@ReformJersey) May 31, 2019

SEB Chairman Senator John Le Fondre is glad the Deputy has decided to stop the vote from going ahead.

"We welcome the fact that Deputy Southern has withdrawn his proposition, which has been an unnecessary distraction to the SEB and its negotiators at this critical time. The SEB has never left the negotiating table and indeed meetings have been taking place before and during the lodging of the Deputy’s proposition, including today.

"It is important for people to understand that the negotiation/mediation which is taking place under the auspices of JACS is subject to confidentiality arrangements, and misguided propositions such as this are liable to disrupt negotiations unnecessarily."