Manx ferry firm staff served notice in dispute over live aboard arrangements

Manx ferry firm staff who have not agreed to new terms have been served notice of the termination of their contracts, a union has confirmed.

Nautilus International said some Isle of Man Steam Packet Company officers had been told they now had 12 weeks left on their current contracts.

The dispute is over plans to impose live on-board conditions on sailings between Douglas and Heysham.

The union said it was a "shocking escalation" shortly before Christmas.

The company has said staff have until 15 March to change their minds and accept the new contracts.

The union represents 48 of the government-owned ferry firm's 70 officers, but it is not clear how many staff have been issued with the notices.

Nautilus members are due to start action short of strike, which will involve refusing to work overtime or act up to cover senior roles, from 18:00 GMT on 27 December for an indefinite period.

Nautilus director of organising Martyn Gray said it was "shameful" that the Manx public would "likely face escalating consequences of Steam Packet's poor management and unreasonable behaviour".

Informing staff that they would "be sacked three days before Christmas" was a "new low for the company", he added.

In a letter sent by Manx Sea Transport Guernsey Limited, the crewing agency for the Steam Packet, recipients were told the notice had been served following legal advice and staff affected would be offered re-employment from 16 March under contracts with the live aboard arrangements included.

In a statement issued earlier on Friday the Steam Packet had said it was "not able to endlessly continue to discussions", and while serving notice was the "last thing the company wants to do", it felt it had "no option in order to bring matters to a conclusion".

"Even after the service of notice, officers will be welcome to sign up to the revised terms and conditions at any point up to 15th March," it added.

Nautilus members voted in support of strike action earlier this week following proposals from the ferry firm which would see staff live aboard the new vessel Manxman rather than return home to rest between shifts.

In a recent ballot responded to by 77% of Nautilus members working for the Steam Packet, 81% of those who responded supported a walkout, while 89% backing taking action short of strike.

The Steam Packet previously said the changes would reduce the risk of cancellations but the union said they would see employees lose 76 days a year with friends and family.

The BBC has contacted the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company for a response.

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