Environment Minister John Young also said that were it not for his passion for the Island’s environment, he would have reconsidered his position in the Council of Ministers by now.
The St Brelade Deputy made the comments to protesters in the Royal Square, where more than a thousand employees blew whistles and horns, waved flags and called for States chief executive Charlie Parker to resign by bellowing: ‘Charlie out!’
A number of other States Members also spoke at the demonstration, including St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft, who criticised the government for its spending on ‘spin doctors’, the Communications Unit and the number of staff it had taken on in recent months.
The leader of one of the UK’s largest unions flew to Jersey for the protest and said that the issue was a higher priority for him than yesterday’s vote in the House of Commons on the proposed Brexit deal.
Deputy Young said: ‘I have spent most of my working life in public service. I am not native to Jersey but I moved here 40 years ago after falling in love with Jersey’s special society and how it deals with problems together.
‘It upsets me deeply and I am ashamed to be a member of the Council of Ministers – I did not sign up for this, to divide the Island and rip its heart out.
‘I passionately believe in Jersey and I want to look after its environment, but I hate what is happening to people working in key areas – without them we are nothing.’
Deputy Young also said he believed there was a way of resolving the dispute.
‘I have seen the importation of failed methodology of how to manage people. Things have to change and cannot carry on,’ he said.
‘If it was not for my passion for Jersey’s environment, I would be considering my position in the Council of Ministers.
‘It is difficult for me to come out and say that, but I am old enough now that I do not care.’
A number of other States Members also spoke, including former teacher, St Saviour Deputy Jess Perchard, who said that she was dismayed about not being able to rectify the issues she experienced in her previous career, labelling the strike ‘absolutely necessary’.
Senator Steve Pallett, meanwhile, said that public-sector employees had been treated ‘disgracefully’ and it was up to States Members, even those with opposing views, to band together and resolve the situation.
St Martin Deputy Steve Luce then spoke about the care his late wife had received from ‘hardworking and dedicated’ Health Department staff and said it was important that politicians did all they could to deliver a result for them.
Deputy Rob Ward urged the public not to tar all States Members with same brush and asked for support in resolving the crisis.
Senators Kristina Moore and Sam Mézec, along with Deputies Montfort Tadier, Kevin Pamplin and Kirsten Morel, also spoke in support of workers.
