Comments shared on proposed protest march

There is a planned teachers' protest march in Jersey in April 2010 that will see Jersey teachers joined by hundreds of union members from the UK.

The march will go from Howard Davis Park to the Jersey Opera House and other public service workers are expected to take part.

Jersey's chief minister has said the union has misunderstood the States' position in the teachers' pay dispute.

This has obviously been a big discussion point in the island with people sharing their thoughts on either side of the debate.

Tony said on the BBC Jersey phone-in: "If they are unhappy with their terms of employment that they carry on marching down to the peer and keep marching."

Rosemary said: "I'm totally with the school teachers because they do do a lot of work."

Malcolm said: "How can we give Teachers a pay increase with so many young school leavers who are currently out of work? We are talking of almost 1,000 here.

"I find some of your callers' views on this subject infuriating. Get my nephew a job first and get us out of recession, then we can look at pay increases, come on!"

In the Jersey Evening Post website story Tom wasn't impressed with the timing of the planned march. He said:

"I see they are going to lead the march on the day when we have a world leading cycle race in the town.

"This will impact on the race and the damage tourism and hence damage tax take from the second biggest sector in the island.

"Well done teachers you really don't care that we already have 1,300 out of work you want to ensure we have more out of work as well just so you can have over inflation pay rises. while not one of you has lost a job!!!!"

Another comment on the JEP story from someone posting as St Helier said it was about the right to negotiate, not pay.

"We have a right to have our Employer negotiate with us!

"The States Employment Board Members did not even attend the last mediation. Ozouf states that they will not negotiate at all.

"That is what this is about! Nothing Else."

And on the Channel Online version of the story Pat said something similar, for Pat it was about working conditions.

Pat said: "The issue is not purely about pay, but about working conditions.

"There are many teachers who are at work from 8.00 a.m. and continue with work after school hours until 4.00 or 5 o'clock without a break.

"When there are parents meeting etc. they are often at work until 7.00pm. Sometimes without any break during the school day."

But on the same story Peter pointed out that in the US, during the credit crunch public service workers took a pay cut.

"In the US at the height of the credit crunch both teachers and the police force volunteered to have pay cuts to help the government reduce taxes so what's different to ours?

"If Teachers want more pay then maybe they should work longer hours!"