THE Island’s biggest trade union says that the announcement on pay made by Chief Minister Frank Walker yesterday is certain to lead to a strike by its 1,600 members.

In an unprecedented move in the history of public-sector industrial relations, the States Employment Board – chaired by the Chief Minister – announced yesterday that it will pay workers what they have been offered before negotiations with pay groups have concluded. Senator Walker made the announcement in the States at 1 pm that a back-dated increase of 2.4% of salaries from 1 June 2006 will be given to all public-service employees in their wages next month. But unions found out only moments beforehand and the move provoked fury from the Transport and General Workers Union regional industrial organiser Nick Corbel. He said: ‘This is a deliberate attempt to circumvent the negotiating bodies and it will not be tolerated. It shows a lack of respect and understanding for the workforce.’