Over 1,000 public sector workers march in pensions protest
REVOLUTIONARY scenes filled St Peter Port today when over 1,000 public sector workers and their supporters marched in defiance of changes to States pensions.
Members from Unite the Union, The Teachers's Union NASUWT, the Guernsey Police Association and the Guernsey Fire and Rescue Service, among others, were in attendance at the vibrant rally.
Flags in hand and whistles at the ready, protesters gathered in Candie Gardens before marching through Town, and congregated in St James Concert Hall and the Sunken Gardens to listen to a series of rousing speeches – each voicing the similar line 'shame on the States'.
While Guernsey Police confirmed the number of protesters at around 1,000, regional officer for Unite the Union, Bob Lanning, said there could have been up to 2,000.
He said the atmosphere was 'electric'.
'You don't normally see displays like this in Guernsey and it is great to see,' he said.
'If States members do not want to go back to the table, that is just not democracy. They need to be more open minded. We want proper, meaningful negotiations to take place.'
