The Chief Minister has dismissed Unite’s safety claims over bus drivers’ work length as ‘complete nonsense’.
Negotiations failed to end a 12-day strike on Thursday. It’s due to run till tomorrow (Wednesday) at 11.59pm.
Allan Bell said it was ‘very disappointing’ a settlement wasn’t reached, saying it was the third time the union leadership had recommended acceptance of government’s offers.
He said claims a duty length of four hours 30 minutes was a health and safety issue – was ‘complete nonsense’. It would be a rise from the current maximum of three hours 45 minutes.
Mr Bell said drivers already worked the increased length where premium pay was due, and UK drivers – even in London – work up to five hours 30 minutes with Unite calling for a cut to four hours 30 minutes.
‘If it is acceptable there with the vastly different pressure drivers have to face how can it be unacceptable in a small place like the Isle of Man?’
Mr Bell said it looked like ‘certain shop stewards’ wanted ‘to prolong the strike action’.
He said Liberal Vannin leader Peter Karran’s comments the dispute was a smokescreen and government was intent on privatising the service were ‘extremely unhelpful and fanciful’.
‘Mr Karran knows there’s no hidden agenda by government or the DCCL to prolong the strike to privatise the buses. It’s deliberate mischief-making at a time of very sensitive negotiations to ensure a very important public service is maintained.’
We tried to contact the union Unite for a response but were unable to do so.
{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/bus-negotiations-fail-strike-set-to-continue-during-tt-drivers-are-permitted-to-leave-the-bus-if-they-need-a-toilet-break-1-5723642|Click here to read our story about negotiations failing}