Members of school leaders’ union NAHT have accepted an improved pay offer from the Government of Jersey.

The union put the offer to its members on the Island in an online ballot, which opened last Tuesday and closed at noon today (Mon 23 Oct).

Members voted overwhelmingly in favour of the deal, with 93% choosing to accept it.

NAHT will now write to the Government of Jersey to seek confirmation that a collective agreement is now in place which will end its industrial dispute, and it with it the union’s action short of strike.

Under the new offer, which covers the 2023 calendar year, the States Employment Board (SEB) agreed to backdate the previous 7.9% pay offer to 1 January. School leaders will also get an additional Education Reform Allowance worth approximately 2.5%.

They will receive a further one-off allowance worth the same amount next year if joint work between NAHT and the Island’s government to address the impact of changes to school leaders’ roles and workload and the Education Reform Programme has not been completed by October 30 2024.

The offer also includes a government commitment to examine the possibility of a healthcare plan for school leaders, along with commitments to review terms and conditions and to explore other benefits.

Rob Kelsall, NAHT’s assistant general secretary, said: “I’m pleased that our members have accepted the revised offer which should bring to an end our long-running dispute with the Government of Jersey.

“It’s a tribute to school leaders in Jersey that we have secured an outcome that is the interests of the education system on the Island.

“As we look forward to 2024, I implore the States Employment Board to prioritise the education workforce and to avoid disputes of this kind arising in the future.”

Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said: “This result is testament to the power of our members’ collective endeavour and determination to secure a fair offer.

“It must however be just the start of a journey to restore the education profession as an attractive proposition and to ensure all schools have the staff they need to deliver the education children on the Island deserve.”

Subject to confirmation from the Government of Jersey that a collective agreement is now in place to end its industrial dispute, the action short of strike members have been taking since July will come to an end.

This has meant members have been refusing to engage with certain government requests, including responding to calls or emails outside core hours, discussing their industrial action, facilitating unsolicited school visits, or participating in non-statutory consultations, surveys, meetings, or data requests.

NAHT members also staged a day-long strike in September – the first in the union’s history in Jersey.