The IOMTUC has stated its support for Communication Workers Union members on island, after the announcement of strike action for next week. The IOMTUC represents workers in the public and private sector on island, and is backing the action given IOM Post’s refusal to go to arbitration. Angela Moffatt, President stated: “Strike is a last resort, and the CWU are moving towards this step because of the inability to have the matter independently determined. If IOM Post have such a strong case, you would expect they would have nothing to fear from the process – in other words, an arbitrator would accept a pay freeze as the most appropriate step. It is not as though an arbitrator has never taken this kind of decision in the recent past over here. It’s a straightforward and accepted way to settle disputes. People may not like the outcome but that is part of the risk.” The IOMTUC are also critical of the Government: Andrew Shipley, Vice President stated: “We understand the need to protect jobs – my own union the ATL has been involved in redeployment and redundancy already within the public sector over the last few years, and it is not pleasant. However, the attitude of IOM Post is pretty poor given the offer of binding arbitration from the CWU. The situation is not helped by the approach seemingly being adopted by politicians of standing back and letting things happen. The political response is especially questionable – over how many more issues are we going to see politicians sit in their ‘ivory tower’, whilst the rest of the island struggles on the ground to solve the issues we are now facing. It’s simply not good enough.” The IOMTUC is supporting the CWU’s suggestion that the matter is settled via arbitration, and urges the Isle of Man Government to finally intervene to make this happen. ENDS