Nurses on the Isle of Man are being asked about their appetite for further strikes, as staff remain dissatisfied with the most recent pay offer.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is balloting all members employed by Manx Care, the arms-length government body that administers health and social care on the Isle of Man, on the 2024-25 staff pay deal.
“Patients are being put at risk due to the staffing crisis on the Isle of Man”
David Hopton
This proposed deal, which is now almost a year overdue, was for a 4% pay increase for Manx Care staff, with back pay to 1 April 2024, for those employed at the time an agreement is reached.
RCN North West’s indicative ballot will run from 26 February until 12 March, and asks staff if they would consider strike action.
In November, RCN surveyed staff on this pay offer and 56% of those who voted chose to reject the offer.
The union stated at the time that if the deal was rejected – which it was – strike action would be considered.
One of the RCN’s concerns about the deal is that staff who worked for Manx Care since 1 April 2024, but who left before a deal was agreed, will not receive back pay.
If a ‘yes’ vote is returned on the ballot, the regional board for the union may then call a statutory ballot on industrial action, which will lay the legal grounds for strikes.
David Hopton, senior RCN regional officer for the Isle of Man, said: “The RCN is clear that industrial action is always a last resort, but we are also clear that the skill, professionalism and safety critical work of nursing staff has historically been undervalued, and that patients are being put at risk due to the staffing crisis on the Isle of Man.
“We would urge every member to have their say as they can help shape the future of nursing pay on the Isle of Man.”
Pay for nursing staff on the Isle of Man has been, as with the UK mainland, a sticking point between staff and employers for years now.
In 2023, the RCN made history on the island by holding the first-ever walk outs of nurses, over pay offers for both 2022-23 and 2021-22. Staff told Nursing Times about their fears that poor pay and other staffing pressures on the island was impacting on patient care.
A spokesperson for Manx Care said, following the announcement of RCN’s new ballot: “Manx Care made a revised pay offer to colleagues employed on MPTC (Manx Pay Terms and Conditions) contracts in November 2024, which comprised 4% for 2024-25.
“Manx Care is aware of the [RCN’s] position with regard to this offer, and remains committed to working with RCN to resolve the pay dispute.”
