Union calls for Manx government to intervene in ferry dispute

A union in dispute with a Manx ferry firm over new on-board living arrangements for crews has called for the government to intervene.

Nautilus members who refused to sign new contracts were put on 12 weeks' notice by the government-owned Isle of Man Steam Packet Company on Friday.

The ferry firm is run at arm's length by a board of directors with the Manx treasury its sole shareholder.

The government previously said it would not "interfere" in the dispute.

Nautilus represents 48 of the ferry firm's 70 officers.

The union branded the latest move shortly before Christmas "a new low", but the firm said it was "fair, legal and proportionate", and necessary to fully implement on-board living arrangements in future.

The action was taken following legal advice and re-employment under the new contracts would be offered on 16 March, the firm said.

In a letter to the treasury minister, the union's senior national secretary Gary Elliot said the latest move had shown the firm's "disrespect for the long-standing collective bargaining agreement" and "utter ambivalence towards our members' deeply felt concerns".

"We remain clear - it is time for government to intervene," he added.

In his response to the letter, Treasury Minister Alex Allinson said he understood "the legal nature of the current industrial dispute and the necessary timelines this involves".

"I hope that through active communication between the relevant parties an agreed solution can be achieved," he added.

The Steam Packet said the changes would increase the reliability of ferry services between Douglas and Heysham, but the union argued it would see employees lose 76 days a year with friends and family.

Mr Elliot confirmed industrial action, which would see officers refuse to work overtime or act up to cover senior positions, would start as planned on 27 December at 18:00 GMT.

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