Buses resume after walkout but more strikes panned

Bus services on the Isle of Man have resumed after a 10-day walk-out but more strikes are set to follow.

Drivers have been on strike since 21 February in a dispute over pay and entitlements.

However, further strike dates are planned for each weekend in March between Friday and Monday, the Unite union said.

Bus Vannin said it remains "ready and willing to have positive and constructive negotiations with Unite" and "remains committed to finding a fair resolution to the dispute".

Bus Vannin's offers remain on the table, the government said, and it "hopes that the bus strike on Friday can be avoided".

But the Isle of Man Trades Union Council, which represents various unions, including Unite, said each of those proposals were "tied to changes in sickness provision, holiday allocation, rostering and pay structure" and were not satisfactory.

"That is not a simple pay rise - it is restructuring. No other public sector workforce is being asked to fund a pay settlement through changes to core terms and conditions," it said.

During the strikes, contingency timetables have been in place, trams are operating and additional spaces remain available for free parking on Douglas Promenade.

The government said the priorities remain services between Douglas and Noble's Hospital and the island's main towns.

People have been asked to remain courteous to drivers.

Four more planned strikes are scheduled to take place between 6-10, 13-17, 20-24 and 27-31 March.

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