Strike possibility in Isle of Man
Postal workers in the Isle of Man could strike over pay demands, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) has said. The CWU confirmed that it is considering a request for an industrial action ballot at Isle of Man Post Office (IMPO) after the company refused to go to binding arbitration in a dispute over pay.
“Postal workers in the Isle of Man have now had enough,” said Terry Pullinger, CWU assistant secretary.
If this goes ahead it will be the first ballot for industrial action among Island postal workers in living memory.
The union, which represents 250 postal workers on the Island, is seeking a pay rise for staff for the 2009 period onwards.
The CWU said that during this time, “IMPO profits have risen and the company is paying 50% of all profits into Manx government coffers, up from 45%, but staff have had a pay freeze.”
As it stands, The Isle of Man government has imposed a public sector pay freeze
Pullinger said: “Isle of Man Post Office is profitable and performing well, but staff have had no pay rise in the last two years, which is blatantly unfair.
“The company has recognised the role that postal workers have played in creating profit and agreed in 2009 to share success with its staff, but is still refusing any pay rise. It’s in everyone’s interests to keep staff morale and efficiency high, but this pay freeze threatens that.”
An IMPO spokesman told the BBC: “Like the majority of island and worldwide businesses, the Post Office is approaching the current economic situation in a responsible manner in order to protect the future prosperity of the Post Office, jobs and postal services against the backdrop of significantly declining mail volumes.”
