NO pressure was placed on the employees’ side of Whitley Council to force them to approve proposals which could result in Villa-Gaiety casual workers seeing their pay cut.
That’s according to vice-chairman of the Civil Service Commission Leonard Singer (Ramsey MHK).
Employees’ side secretary Eric Holmes told the Manx Independent last week that they had been confronted with a fait accompli. ‘We were forced into a position where we were unable to take the item away.’
The proposals to take casual workers off Whitley Council terms and conditions, moved by the commission’s chairman Alfred Cannan (Michael MHK), were approved by Tynwald members.
Mr Cannan said he hoped it would ensure a ‘fair’ pay rate for staff which would protect jobs.
Mr Singer said that the current rate saw casual staff being paid 50 per cent above the market rate.
Community, Culture and Leisure Minister Tim Crookall MHK said that changes to the hourly rate would be discussed with staff and unions, and the new rate was likely to be in the region of £8 per hour.
He said it would lead to annual savings of £20,000.
Up to 91 casual staff at the Villa Marina and Gaiety Theatre could be affected, the majority of them bar staff who earn £10.28 per hour.
It compares to a market rate of about £7.50 per hour.
Juan Turner MLC gave his support to the move, saying: ‘It will bring into line the rates of pay with the outside world. This is certainly not going to give anyone a raw deal.’
Onchan MHKs Peter Karran (LibVan) and Zac Hall raised their concern the changes might contravene employment law, with Mr Hall saying he was concerned staff might have a case for constructive dismissal.
Mr Cannan replied: ‘Now discussions will be down to the DCCL. I’m sure they will take into consideration any employment law issues.’
Following a request by Douglas North MHK Bill Henderson, Mr Cannan confirmed that the agreement had been signed by the chairman of the employees’ side, Debbie Halsall.
The change is being viewed as a significant first step towards a wider shake-up of government employees’ term and conditions.
Mr Cannan said: ‘I think it’s right the government looks across the board at its terms and conditions.
‘We will be doing so going forward in other areas. It’s important we are not out of line with the private sector.’
Whitley Council is the pay negotiating body for public sector manual workers. Casual staff at the DCCL have been on Whitley terms and conditions since 2003.
Already exempt from Whitley Council negotiations are manual workers at the Manx Electricity Authority, Isle of Man Post Office, Bus Vannin and maintenance staff in the estate services directorate of Department of Health.
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