Estephanie Dunn, Regional Director for the RCN in the North West, said, “It feels strange to be back out surveying members so soon after agreeing the last pay offer. However, this new offer is for a different pay year as we’re still playing catch-up.”
Manx Care staff are being consulted on their pay offer which dates back to April 2023.
Ms Dunn continued, “We are not recommending how members should vote, simply asking that they do vote. It is up to members whether they think the offer is acceptable or not.
“The last pay offer took so long to agree and resulted in strike action. However, it was down to our members taking this action that we finally got a better resolution for all employees at Manx Care. We hope this time we can get to a resolution on their pay much more quickly.”
The RCN is concerned that the offer does not necessarily include back-pay for those who have already left Manx Care in the months since the offer should have been implemented.
Following a challenge on the decision by the island's joint trade unions, Manx Care has set up an appeals process in which individual cases will be considered. To be eligible, however, staff must have maintained a link with the trust.
Ms Dunn continued, “The matter of back-pay for leavers continues to be an uphill battle for us with Manx Care. Whilst we want to work with Manx Care and the government to get the best offer possible for nursing staff, always being behind with pay offers means that there are staff who have worked the hours but have since left, making them ineligible to claim for the additional monies they should have had if the pay offer had been agreed at the start of the pay year.”
A consultative survey will be open for two weeks from 12 noon on Wednesday 31 January 2024 to 12 noon on Wednesday 14 February 2024.
