Call to resist pay claims

Thursday 20th April 2006, 12:00AM BST.

JOBS will be lost in the private sector if the States does not cut costs and resist calls from unions for inflation-busting pay rises, says Jersey Chamber of Commerce president Kevin Keen.

He issued the warning following the news that States and parish manual workers have submitted a pay claim of 1% above whatever the end of March rate of inflation will be.

‘It is tough out there, hard going for anyone outside the finance industry.

Businesses have no ability to raise their prices.

If costs rise, then savings will have to be found elsewhere within a business, and that will result in job losses,’ he said.

Mr Keen said he had ‘real sympathy’ for manual workers as they were no doubt struggling to meet the costs of living.

But he urged the States to resist the claim made by the Transport and General Workers Union.

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