£500,000 'gamble' is queried by unions
QUESTIONS as to how the States can spend an 'eye-watering' £500,000 on a court 'gamble' at such a time of austerity have been asked by unions hoping to reopen pension negotiations.
Prospect general secretary Dai Hudd and ASEO chairman and Association of Guernsey Civil Servants president Martin MacIntyre yesterday called for a rethink on the report put forward by the Policy Council, which has recommended putting aside the amount to pay for action in the Royal Court to force through public sector pension reforms.
'It's an incredible amount of money in such a time of austerity and such a big risk,' said Mr MacIntyre.
'Going to court is essentially a gamble and they are willing to risk half-a-million on a gamble at a time when everyone is cutting back.
'I would urge deputies to suggest to the Policy Council that we should all get back around the table.'
Mr MacIntyre said the figure could also fall well short of the likely cost of court action, saying it was something the unions would fight and it was something that could go to higher courts in the UK.
