The demonstration was against plans to cut jobs and services

Members of the Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU) are fighting plans to cut up to 500 States jobs over the next five years.

The States is debating ways of reducing an expected �100m shortfall when Jersey introduces a zero rate of company tax.

Union leader Nick Corbel said his members were protesting about a loss of public sector jobs and services.

Chanting crowd

"These are jobs for our kids that are going down the pan. How are they going to get the work done?" he said.

The demonstrators met at People's Park at 0830 BST and walked through St Helier to the Royal Square.

Policy and Resources president Senator Frank Walker was loudly booed as he turned up for the States sitting, with the crowd chanting "Walker out", but he hit back at his critics and said he would not be resigning.

"This is something I have become accustomed to over the years and the chanting has been orchestrated," he said.

"These are people I and my committee have offered five years of job security to. How many other workers have got that?

"These people are not going to be forcibly put out of work. Their jobs are not at risk.

"We have also reached an agreement with the unions which gives the manual workers the security they were looking for after the five-year period is up."