From Kevin Keen.
WHILE I can understand that it is not popular with public-sector workers, the decision of the Council of Ministers to freeze pay in 2009 is correct, entirely proportionate and probably generous in the light of the economic problems currently facing Jersey.

Many would argue that what is actually required is a substantial reduction in the cost of the public-sector workforce.

Islanders know that States employees enjoy secure employment, increasingly rare (and unaffordable) final-salary pension rights and, of course, high levels of pay. Therefore public-sector employees should count themselves really lucky they are not being asked to take a pay cut or compulsory redundancy, as has happened in the private sector.

They should also know that they will get even less sympathy from other Islanders if they try to hold us to ransom through industrial action.

States Members who want to support the lower-paid public-sector employees are to be
commended for their motives, but the reality is that Jersey just cannot afford it.

All these politicians will end up doing is make things much worse for everyone, including the less-well-off they want to protect.