TRADE Union Council president Andrew Shipley has given a guarded welcome to plans to create a single employing body for half the government workforce.
Chief Minister Allan Bell announced last week that consultation will begin after Easter on proposals to establish a Public Services Commission which would replace the Civil Service Commission and Whitley Council.
At present all civil servants are employed by the Civil Service Commission while manual and craft workers are employed by their departments or boards, but under terms and conditions set by the Whitley Council, which is a joint employer/union negotiating forum.
The new body will cover 4,000 government staff, half the total. Teachers, the police, firefighters and health workers will continue to have their pay negotiated by the professional bodies in the UK.
Mr Shipley, Isle of Man TUC president, said: ‘There will be a range of employee groups potentially affected by this, some of whom, while being affected by it, will not see it negatively while others will reject it and see this as an attempt to undermine their position.’
He said it is important for union members to take part in the consultation.
Mr Shipley said: ‘Each of the IOM TUC affiliates will have their own position on this review and it is important when consultation begins that individuals, as well as the representative bodies potentially affected, respond as fully and thoroughly as they are able.
‘The challenge for the unions is to mobilise members to respond to the consultation.
‘In addition to considering the potential benefits which may be realised I hope that other aspects will be considered.
‘A Public Services Commission would be responsible for workers across a wide spectrum of roles and the risk is that what works for one body may not be suitable for another.
‘A body such as a Public Services Commission, far removed from the work undertaken by some sections could lead to difficulties, as there would be a lack of understanding of what the roles and responsibilities are and the particular needs of the job.’
Mr Bell said a Public Services Commission would support government’s policy of increasing efficiency and reducing bureaucracy.
Simplifying employment structures would help harmonise terms and conditions, and both streamline and modernise collective bargaining arrangements, he said.