Union boss Terry Pullinger says he is ’not over-optimistic’ that the postal dispute can be settled soon.

He was speaking as the island branch of the Communication Workers’ Union prepared to meet this week to discuss their next steps.

Postal workers staged a two-day strike before Christmas in a dispute over changes to pay and terms and conditions. The walk-out came after a revised offer made by the Post Office board was rejected by the CWU.

Mr Pullinger, CWU deputy general secretary postal, said he provided a document to the management after the Christmas break outlining the union’s thoughts on how negotiations could move forward - but had heard nothing back.

He said: ’I’m not over-optimistic at the moment.

’There have been conversations, there’s been exchange of views but I’ve no optimism that there’s serious movement.’

He said the union has shown willingness to ’work through some of the big problems’ if the management would drop some of its proposals. Mr Pullinger said: ’After the hiatus over Christmas what we did was put down our thoughts and try to be as open-minded as possible about the future and the challenges and what the real vision would look like for the Post Office.

’We wanted to get the momentum back on. We are still awaiting the reply. We are talking to the branch about it and will then consider what will be the next move.’

’It’s almost like we are negotiating with people who are two places away from the decision-makers,’ he added.

Mr Pullinger said he had listened to the ’hard line’ contribution by Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan in the debate in Tynwald when plans were approved in principle to close the Post Office’s final salary scheme for new entrants and end Saturday letter deliveries.

He said he felt there was a political dimension to the dispute, with the government wanting to implement changes that would set a precedent for other areas of the public sector.

’Long term the Isle of Man is stacking up problems. They want to drive down terms and conditions,’ Mr Pullinger said.

’Postal workers are seen as the shock troops. If they get this through I would put money on it they would very shortly try to do the same to all public sector workers.’

The revised offer includes a two-year pay deal comprising a 1% increase backdated to April 2018 and £200 lump sum, and 2% increase for 2019-20. There will be a review of jobs to ensure roles are graded fairly and consistently. There is an assurance that job evaluation won’t reduce basic pay for current employees.

A new pay scale, ’competitive in the local marketplace’, is proposed for new recruits.