Sponsored by
Bus workers stage strike
BUS inspectors and depot supervisors were due to strike over pay and conditions this morning.
However, head of bus services Dave Kinrade said at lunchtime: 'So far everything has run as normal and we are confident that this will continue throughout the rest of the day.
In February, eight out of nine of the Isle of Man's bus inspectors and depot supervisors voted in favour of industrial action following talks throughout 2008 about their entitlements to shift enhancements and other benefits.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Angela Moffatt, negotiations officer for the union Prospect, said: 'This is a last resort and we have tried to avoid this action for well over a year.
'Our members do not want to lose money and go on strike but it's a measure of their belief that what is happening is fundamentally wrong.'
She said the issue had escalated since the notification that depot supervisor posts would be scrapped due to plans to close out-of-town bus depots in the next few years.
The strike was due to coincide with the launch of a newly liveried bus fleet, which has now been rearranged.
Bus inspectors, she explained, do not receive the normal higher pay for working shifts or unsociable hours, and although their pay is at the same level as civil service executive officers – who can be paid anything from 25,639 to 32,522 a year – it is at the lower end of that pay bracket, according to Prospect.
Ms Moffatt said: 'They want a fair remuneration package that recognises the work they do and they want to save management the money they are spending, paying them overtime to drive buses.
'They do not want that funded at the cost of their colleagues' jobs, and cuts to public services through the closure of depots.
'It's no good offering them alternative jobs which aren't fairly remunerated – some of our members would lose up to 13.5 per cent of their current pay with some of the terms management are attaching to their offer.'
She added: 'Management are blaming the recession and seeking more flexibility despite the fact that they can find tens of thousands of pounds to fund new uniforms that staff neither want nor need, and spend almost 2 million on 11 new buses.'
An offer has been made by the management, she explained, but it was not accepted.
The DoT is continuing discussions with Prospect, confirmed Mr Cregeen.
Prospect expect further strike action within the next few weeks if no agreement can be reached.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Send your comments to newsviews@newsiom.co.im
YOUR COMMENTS
If the buses are working normally despite the strike, it rather raises the question of whether the bus inspectors and depot supervisors are even required ! As for Moffatt criticising the purchase of new buses, is the paying public supposed to suffer in order to fund lavish wages?
SJR
Obviously they aren't needed if they can strike and the busses can run normally! Anyway, I'll come and do the job for 26k a year!! What have they got to complain about earning that money!? Public money at that! Do they expect to earn our support over their demands!?
DO
25K a year for driving a bus. Where do I apply? I understand it must be tough with some of the nasty punters. But at the end of the day no other driving job on this island pays that well. Credit crunch / Recession? Stop crying and get on with it, there are plenty of other people who would happily take on your jobs!!
JOHN
John and Do - You are missing the point,these men are the supervisors and do not ordinarily drive the buses.If Propect says their pay is at the lower end of the scale that would be more like c28k.If they are working extra hours driving buses at one and a half/ double time (remember this is the Public Sector) and I seem to remember that they were complaining of fifty hour weeks ,you do the maths.This would suggest pay of well over 40k per year.If I am wrong I can only apologise so I say to Ms Moffatt publish the figures so that the public can see.
SJR
Can somebody please find Angela Moffatt and her father a real job, you know one that involves doing some sort of work, before they manage to completely destroy the relationship between the tax paying public and employees of the public sector forever? If 9 staff being paid a minimum of 25k a year can go out on strike without any impact on services then what does it say? It says to me that there should be 9 more people signing on at Markwell House.
PAUL B
This strike and Ms Moffat's ranting's will hopefully turn out to be a massive own goal, finally exposing the take home pay of IOM bus driver's as the among highest in Europe - well in excess the 500 per week which is widely advertised as the pay for driving buses in London, a much more difficult job. Here, many drivers spend hours a day sitting in the canteen between the school peaks, doing nothing productive.
Then, we can see numerous largely empty buses running around carying fresh air. The whole sorry mess which is costing the tax payer 100k per week, is in desperate need of a dose of economic and commericial reality. Maybe Mr Cregeen is the man to get a grip of this. To confuse the investment in new vehicles to replace buses over 20 years old, with pay, indicates breathtaking stupidity on the part of the union. I for one hope that these staff and the odious Ms M end up with plenty of egg all over their faces.
BUS USER, Onchan
I think it is vile that they strike over pay and conditions. They earn far more than there English counterparts are paid more than our nurses. What is going on here? The Government are wasting money on re branding the Buses to Bus Vannin at a cost of 500k, what wise MHK decides to do that in a recession? Where do they come from?
JC
SJR, I stand corrected, I did get mixed up with inspectors and drivers - but what do inspectors atually do to earn this salary, and again, where do I apply? Another point - I think Little miss moffat must be totally unaware of the accounting term "depreciation" regarding new buses. I do use buses and appreciate the service, and know it must sometimes be a horrible job especially the night shift. But I am yet to see an inspector on a night bus.
JOHN
Its pretty incredible in the time of closures and redundancies that people are going on strike. Perhaps some time in the private sector will give these inspectors a work ethic and appreciate what they have. I'm sure there are plenty of people who have recently been made redundant that can fill the places of these inspectors. The inspectors must realise that the strike will achieve nothing apart from a days pay lost. Once more the Moffats are doing their best to destroy public services on the Isle of Man.
AR
Its called GREED!!
PAUL HARRINGTON
John - to see an Inspector you will have to tune in to ITV4 for a re-run of On The Buses, as I have not seen an Inspector on IOM Transport since about 1974.A handy job to have though if you shop at Tesco.
SJR
Get back to work, how dare these people go on strike when they are paid by the general public. Also if there are more talks planned why go on strike ? Its handy too isn't it - they can now have 5 days off this bank holiday instead of 4. Have you also noticed that there is not one letter of support on this page ?
DAVE
To be on strike with no disruption to normal service should be a wake up call to these inspectors. Might as well be led by Lord Raglan. If you earn between 500-600 for doing an unskilled job keep your head under the radar.Plenty of fishermen would settle for that sort of money.
DH
The 500 pounds a week advertised on London buses includes overtime! A nurse has to train for three years to obtain their professional qualification, deal with violence, aggression and most of the unpleasent things that can be experienced on a late night bus all day long, ask them how much less than 500 a newly qualified nurse earns?
ANON
Just to follow up SJR's comments... I used the busses 5 days a week for nearly 14 years and have only ever come across 2 inspectors in that time!! Other than that, I've seen plenty walking from the depot to Tesco or the shop on Railway Terrace and back again. Can anyone beat my score of 2 inspectors (actually on busses doing their job) in 14 years?
DO
Privatisation of the national transport system (as with some other government services) is long overdue. Be careful what you ask for Ms. Moffat!
ANDY, Onchan</em?
Either the government calls their bluff or give in,this is the option,and I know which way they will go. As most people on this site are saying,who are these people ?,where do they work ?, I have never seen a Inspector on any bus for years, as to these supervisors,what are they supervising ?, if they are unhappy with this massive wage/salary they can always hand in their notice and go for another job better paid,that's if they can find one. With nearly 1000 people on the dole,and the threat of more redundancies,these bus types had better get wise and keep their heads down,there are plenty of people out there only too willing to do their jobs. Maybe with all the cars on the road we don't need all these buses or their crews,cut down and see if it affects people,I don't think it will, I remember one bus strike,there were people only too willing to give people a lift, as I said call their bluff and see what happens.
EORH
The MANX public should stick to the facts, it IS NOT drivers who are striking it is the Inspectors & Supervisors! Terms & Conditions for drivers are very good, the flip side of this which people should understand are anit-social hours, threats of violence (including from school children), passengers soiling themselves, vomiting, fighting with each other etc etc. I am happy in my job, well paid for what I do, and accept that the above conduct is from a minority of people who lose it through mind altering drugs. If any Bus Driver is truly unhappy, they can leave, any member of the public who envies their package should go and take the PSV test and apply for a job. Leave drivers alone - they are not striking, and as far as I'm aware have no intention of doing so!
CONTENTED BUS DRIVER
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Isle of Man
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Heavy showers
Temperature: 5 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 30 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 6 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: West
