Postal workers in the island are preparing to vote in a ballot for industrial action.

Ballot forms have been sent to the 200 postal members of the Communication Workers’ Union.

The dispute centres on changes to pay, pensions, terms and conditions and service levels which the union has described as the 'most horrific’ they have ever seen in the Isle of Man from the Post Office board - and amounted to 'privatisation by the back door’.

In a letter sent out to every member, the CWU said the proposals threaten the postal workers’ employment, standard of living, retirement security and 'this great public service’.

Urging every member to vote 'yes’ the union said: 'It is time to pick sides and it essential that you use your vote. You cannot sit on the fence on this issue.

'You are either with the CWU and our vision or you are with management and their proposals. A no-vote or failure to cast your vote is to agree with management.’

Postal workers unanimously voted to ballot for industrial action at a union meeting in September.

Isle of Man Post Office made a loss for the first time this year.

Among measures proposed by the board to modernise the service and make savings is for new starters to be employed on reduced pay and terms and conditions. The CWU says this will create a two-tier service.An initial offer of a £250 lump sum pay award for all postal workers was increased to a 1% increase. But the CWU says this is still far lower than the pay award offered to other public sector workers.The union claims management had tried to delay the ballot by making difficult the process of ensuring membership details are correct.