The Isle of Man TUC supports the bus drivers in their actions. While we would encourage affiliates try to settle disputes with management through resolution rather than confrontation, we recognize that there comes a point where people have to say, enough is enough. “We regard any form of industrial action to be a last resort”, says Andrew Shipley, IOM TUC President. “Unfortunately, when we have employees, in this case the bus drivers, being backed into a corner by the DCCL, incurring significant reductions to their take home pay and terms and conditions of service, then the Trades Council will support those who are taking action”.
Commenting on how we have arrived at this position Mr. Shipley said, “Negotiation is supposed to be two parties coming closer together to achieve change. It has been reported to me that the employees’ side, comprising of the Unite Regional Officer Eric Holmes and five Stewards, over a period of some six months, tried to negotiate. The Regional Officer, at an earlier stage, publicly recommend that the drivers accept a deal, as bad as it was for them, of reducing a ?3000 loss per year to ?1500, which was not adopted. Unfortunately, it still seems that the only party at the negotiating table that has offered a change in position was the Employee side. The Employers side is sticking to wanting a reduction of ?300000 by whatever means possible. Apparently the Chief Minister and Treasury Minister have been invited by the Unite Regional Official to get involved in the talks but this has been declined. From the Employees view it would appear that this has been a politically engineered situation”.
Commenting on the impasse Mr. Shipley said, “While industrial action is taking place, it is important to concentrate on sorting out the dispute. It is imperative that we make the most of the coming days to try and sort this issue out. Representatives of the Trades Council are more than ready to help in whatever way we can to see this matter resolved to the satisfaction of all concerned".
