Bus drivers are to stage another work-to-rule next week in a continuing dispute over taking time off during the TT.

Eric Holmes of the Unite union said the industrial action was being escalated to include a weekend - and he blamed director of public transport Ian Longworth for lack of progress in agreeing a settlement.

The work to rule will begin at just after midnight on Monday morning and end at just before midnight on Sunday night.

Mr Holmes said: ’This time it will include the weekend and therefore the entire week.

’This will cause disruption to services as management inspectors and supervisors will have to leave their substantive posts to man buses.

’The disruption which will occur will be that chosen by the management structure led by Mr Longworth.’

He stressed that the drivers will not be on strike but working to their 'bare contractual obligations' without doing any overtime.

Mr Holmes said Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer MHK has not to date accepted an invitation to meet with the bus driver representatives.

Bus Vannin drivers carried out their first work-to-rule over five days during the MGP in August.

The dispute centres on the removal of annual leave during TT.

Bus Vannin management say that as the number of drivers has fallen from 110 in 2012 to 92 today, the number on holiday in any one week needs to be cut too - and £100,000 can be saved by reducing holiday cover by two full time drivers.

Its offer was to reduce the number of drivers on holiday during TT to six and for staff to have to book their annual holidays up to nine months in advance.

This went to ballot and was unanimously rejected by the Bus Vannin drivers.