The public sector jobs are to go over as part of States spending cuts

Policy and Resources President Senator Frank Walker has written to the Transport and General Workers Union to discuss planned service and job cuts.

The union had threatened strikes action over proposals to cut about 500 jobs over five years.

In his letter to Nick Corbel of the union, Senator Walker said no compulsory redundancies were planned.

Partnership arrangement

Senator Walker said the plans also did not include contracting work done by the States to private firms.

He has invited the union to set up a working partnership to discuss the plans in return for a guarantee no one would be forced to leave their job.

Mr Corbel has welcomed the offer but said his union was wary of entering into partnership arrangements with employers.

He said he was also unsure about who the offer is aimed at.

He said he wants assurances from Policy and Resources the offer included all public sector workers, not just union members.

The public sector posts are set to go over as the States attempts to cut its spending by about �20m a year.