Guernsey civil service pension negotiations begin

Negotiations over a new pensions deal for Guernsey civil servants have begun.

A joint working party, chaired by UK pensions expert Rodney Benjamin, pledged to meet every month and have a deal in place by Autumn 2012.

Mr Benjamin will oversee talks between the States and its employees, and he said he expected the island to avoid the pension strikes seen in the UK.

Ed Freestone, of the Association of Civil Servants, said he hoped the solution would be fair.

He added that he hoped it would keep Guernsey competitive in terms of recruitment.