PLANS to cut £116m worth of States spending over five years have been criticised by the head of Jersey’s biggest union, who says the resulting redundancies will force families onto welfare and Income Support.

Nick Corbel, the district official for the transport and general workers section of Unite, who represents 5,000 workers in the Island, says the Public Accounts Committee’s Business Plan amendment is a step too far. The committee, made up of politicians and business leaders, have proposed an amendment to next year’s spending plans that would cut £12m from the overall States budget, and £116m from spending plans for the next five years. On Saturday, Treasury Minister Terry Le Sueur told the JEP that he did not see how the cuts could be made without job losses. Mr Corbel has been at odds with ministers over pay talks for his members and the new Employment Law in recent years, but has given the Council of Ministers his full backing in fighting the spending cuts. ‘There have been cuts in services and jobs, and we have to say to the Public Accounts Committee, “What more do you want?” ‘ said Mr Corbel.