Politicians should be 'recalled' to Tynwald to debate public sector pay says union boss

Revised pay offer from PSC 'likely' to be rejected from Unite and Prospect

A trade union has called for Tynwald members to be recalled over the summer to debate pay offers proposed by the Public Services Commission.

Prospect says it’s ‘imperative’ that Treasury representatives and employers match changes being implemented in the UK.

The UK has announced a series of above-inflation increases, which the health minister previously warned could put the Isle of Man in a 'difficult position' if matched.

Prospect has recently renewed calls for higher pay increases to be offered to public and civil service workers including Manx Care employees.

Prospect Negotiations Officer Mick Hewer said: "We have seen the UK Government accept the recommendations made by the pay review bodies and those recommendations will see above inflation pay increases for the first time in decades. 

"What we have been offered by comparison is cuts to our members pay once the effects of inflation has been considered. 

"Additionally recent pay awards have been eroded by increases in taxation.
"There are significant recruitment and retention issues across a wide range of employment sectors and the erosion of the differentials in pay between our members and those applied in the UK simply isn’t helping.

"It is now imperative that Treasury representatives and employers respond by making pay offers that match those being implemented in the UK. 

"Prospect and our colleagues across all unions representing public sector workers are open to immediate talks and given the importance of the subject matter perhaps it may be appropriate to recall Tynwald members so that this issue can be debated in that forum.

"As far as our members are concerned they expect to see an increase in salaries that result in an easing of the financial pressures they face today, an inflation proof award, anything less effectively results in a pay cut on top of a further erosion of take-home pay because of the recently applied two percent increase in taxation." 

Mr Hewer told Manx Radio he believes there are wider discussions to be had:

The current Public Services Commission offer is 3.25 percent, decreasing over the subsequent two years, following negotiations held towards the beginning of July.

Manx Radio continues to seek comment from the Public Services Commission to respond to claims made by the unions Unite and Prospect.

We are yet to receive a response and will be making our tenth attempt later today.

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