RCN members 'prepared to strike'

The uplift is the third offer that has been made for this pay period 

The Royal College of Nursing is to look into the next steps for industrial action.

A ballot, held by the union, showed 70 percent of members employed by Manx Care on the Isle of Man are prepared to strike over their 4 percent pay offer for 2024/5.

The uplift is the third offer that has been made for this pay period and previous offers were rejected. 

The union says it was left concerned that the offer did not include back-pay for those who had already left Manx Care in the months since the offer should have been implemented and challenged Manx Care on this matter. 

North West Regional Director for the RCN, Simon Browes, says: “The result of this ballot speaks for itself.

"Our members do not feel like they are being heard and believe that taking action is necessary to bring about a resolution.  

"The RCN has been clear since the start of this process, 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.

“Whilst next steps will need to be discussed, the majority of our members have made their voices clear. We are now in a position to proceed to a statutory ballot on industrial action, allowing our members to lawfully strike. 

"We are asking Manx Care to consider this strong message and to continue negotiations with our members.”