THE Island’s biggest trades union has thrown its considerable weight behind the Jersey Democratic Alliance – a potential 5,000 votes in the Senatorial election.

TGWU district official Nick Corbel says the union will be recommending to members that they vote with the JDA in both the Senatorial and Deputies’ polls because of their stance on employment laws and taxation.

JDA chairman Deputy Geoff Southern this week received a petition signed by around 1,000 people against the new Employment Relations Law and spoke to a 700-strong union rally in the Royal Square.

‘I will be advising my members to consider voting for the party,’ said Mr Corbel, who signed Deputy Southern’s Senatorial nomination paper.

‘The party is supporting our campaign for fairer employment legislation and fair play in the workplace and to throw out this anti-union legislation.

‘My members are very astute and realise that this is the time for change.

They are very frustrated with government at the moment.

Our members do not feel they are getting their fair slice of the cake and the government is hurting low- and middle-income families.

The future does not look very bright for my membership.

‘It is for members to decide, and there are other candidates they have traditionally supported, including Senator Stuart Syvret, who has supported us on a number of issues,’ Mr Corbel added.

If all 5,000 union members and their families voted for Deputy Southern and fellow JDA candidate Denise Carroll, it would put them well on the way to the Senatorial benches.

In 1993 Senator Frank Walker came sixth and secured the final Senatorial seat with a total across the parishes of 9,377 votes.

Deputy Southern has welcomed the union’s backing.

‘I think it’s mutual support.

It’s about representing all sectors of Jersey society,’ he said.