THE head of Jersey’s biggest union has rejected claims that his workers earn too much and has given a mixed welcome to the new tax proposals.

Transport and General Workers Union president Nick Corbel said the recent benchmarking report by KPMG showed that manual workers provided a good level of service and were not over-manned.He said that there was uncertainty within the public sector workforce because no details of cuts proposed by the fundamental spending review process had been given.

Up to 175 jobs could be lost through the fundamental spending review process and Mr Corbel said it was not clear why, given the results of the benchmarking survey.’I think that any company or any large organisation has the right to look at how it operates, but the way the States are undertaking this process just appears to be making cuts for the sake of it,’ said Mr Corbel.’You have got to remember that the benchmarking report actually said we provide a very good service and we are not over-staffed, but they are still intent on making these cuts.’What is the benefit in comparing private or public sector pay? Is it wrong for manual workers to be ten per cent higher than in the private sector? Surely the private sector should come up to the level of the public sector.’Mr Corbel said his workers were not living the high life, but were earning enough money to keep themselves and their families.