The number of employment tribunal claims went up last year, it has been revealed.

In 2018, there were 107 claims, compared with 80 in 2017. While the number of claims was 107, the actual number of complaints came to 143, because a claim can contain two or more complaints -such as unfair dismissal and unfair reductions in pay. Unfair dismissal amounted 50 claims and the unfair reduction claims came to 70.

The figures are revealed in the annual report by the Manx Industrial Relations Service, which received more than 10,000 inquiries during the year, although the specific number of 10,218 actually represents a decrease on the 2017 figure of 10,735.

Employees account for the highest number of queries, at 5,189 with 4,741 from employers and 288 from trade unions, representatives and advisors. The most common inquiry was about termination and notice pay (2,286), followed by queries about dismissal (1,293) and pay deductions (1,291).

There were six trade disputes registered.

’In each case we engaged with both parties and encouraged them with our involvement to have further talks in a constructive manner,’ said Ms Bradley.

Some 402 days were lost due to strike action last year - but they were all down to a single two-day strike by one union. Although the report does not specify, that must relate to industrial action by the Communications Workers’ Union members in their dispute with Post Office management.

Industrial relations officer Julie Bradley says the implementation of the Equality Act this year, and the introduction of the final provisions in January next year means the service is expecting a busy year.

She says that for the first time in its history the service has three industrial relations officers.

’This has enabled us to deal with the increasing volumes of work in a more timely fashion and to pro-actively assist with the development and phased implementation of the act,’ she adds.

’My team and I have worked exceptionally hard throughout 2018 to maintain positive and constructive relationships with our customers while dealing with a high number of inquiries in an ever increasing, complex legal environment.

’I am confident that we will now be able to meet the challenges that lie ahead and will deliver the high level of service that all our customers quite rightly expect.’