Manx ferry firm offers to withdraw notice letters in dispute

The live aboard arrangements would apply the Manxman and the Ben-my-Chree

Notice letters handed to officers in dispute with a Manx ferry operator will be withdrawn if industrial action is halted, the firm has said.

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company put some members of the union Nautilus on 12 weeks' notice on 22 December.

Affected officers started taking action short of strike, which included a refusal to cover for senior roles and work overtime, on 27 December.

The union said it would cease the action once the letters were withdrawn.

The Steam Packet has been in dispute with Nautilus over new contracts that would see staff live onboard the vessels, rather than go home during rest periods, while on shift.

The industrial action has led to a reduction in passenger ferry services after a rostered officer had to take leave for personal reasons.

'Advised to cease'

The firm said it had met with the union and the Manx Industrial Relations Service on 28 December and had "agreed to continue to work with all parties on a proposal to resolve what it sees as the outstanding issues".

A representative said it had now "indicated" it would "withdraw the notice letters sent in December, in exchange for Nautilus agreeing to repudiate industrial action with immediate effect".

They added that if an agreement could not now be reached, it would go to arbitration.

In a statement, Nautilus said its members would be "advised to cease industrial action", once confirmation that notices have been withdrawn had been received from the Steam Packet.

It added that while discussions continued, it expected the firm to "honour the status quo".

Follow-up meetings between the firm and the union are due to take place on 15 and 16 January.

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