Official figures released today show that 882 of the total 7,673 States employees were paid basic salaries of at least £41,000 topped up by pension contributions and overtime to go above the £50,000 mark.However, it was also revealed by Policy and Resources president Senator Frank Walker that there are morale problems among public sector workers as a result of ‘constant criticism and comment’ about how there are too many ‘penpushers’ within the public sector.The Senator said that the term ‘penpushers’ was highly derogatory and contended that most public sector were hard workers.
‘Many take work home and come in out of hours for no extra reward,’ he said.P & R also announced today that a wide-ranging ‘benchmark’ review of the public sector will be carried out.
It is aimed at identifying efficiencies, and top UK consultants have been called in to assist.’It will be a transparent process and we are aiming to create a culture of performance,’ he said.The earnings figures announced to the States show that the two top earners are the Bailiff, Sir Philip Bailhache, and new States chief executive Bill Ogley, who take home between £150,000 and £175,000.In the bracket earning between £125,000 and £150,000 are three senior legal officers.
They are Attorney General William Bailhache, Deputy Bailiff Michael Birt and Solicitor General Stephanie Nicolle.In the £100,000 to £125,000 bracket are Education, Sport and Culture director Tom McKeon, Airport director Mike Lanyon, Policy and Resources director of international finance John Harris, States police chief officer Graham Power, Jersey Post chief executive John Pinel and States Treasurer Ian Black.
The post of director of Health and Social Services also falls in this category.
Currently Anton Skinner is acting chief executive.Also in this category are Judicial Greffier Michael Wilkins, Magistrate Ian Le Marquand and two legal advisers.Although prepared to give outline salaries, Senator Walker said that P & R would not release the exact earnings of individuals.In responding to a question from Senator Ted Vibert in the House, Senator Walker said that exact earnings were contractually confidential and resisted calls from Deputies Phil Rondel and Jennifer Bridge to change the policy.Deputy Rondel said that the public had the right to know exactly how much public employees were paid, and Deputy Bridge called for the confidentiality clause to be removed from the contracts of new senior officers.However, Senator Walker said that P & R would ‘continue to adopt best practice’ in recruitment policy.The figures released today show that 169 management and adminstration staff earn packages of £50,000 or better.
Another 23 are chief officers.
However, 148 members of the uniformed services – the police, fire and prison staff – took home at least £50,000 last year.A total of 99 hospital consultants, doctors, nurses and ambulance staff and 74 other medical-related professionals also reached the mark.
There are 103 engineers; 68 Jersey Telecoms employees, 23 air traffic controllers, 14 Customs officers, 13 postal staff, 11 meteorologial officers and 13 other States employees on the list.
