Two Bus Vannin drivers are due to take their employers to tribunal this week in test cases brought by the Unite union.
David Kelly and Stephen Cowin are claiming unfair dismissal over changes to their terms and conditions, including loss of paid lunch breaks. It’s the latest twist in the long-running dispute that resulted in a series of strikes, the first over three days before last Christmas and the most recent during this year’s TT.
Mr Kelly and Mr Cowin are among 63 drivers who have submitted claims for unfair dismissal. Their hearing is listed for three days starting on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, it has emerged that lawyers acting for Unite put forward an offer to postpone the tribunal test cases if a joint commission is set up to attempt to negotiate a settlement - but the offer was rejected by the employer.
The Unite offer, seen by the Isle of Man Examiner, proposes the tribunal be stayed (suspended) until the end of January with the express aim of trying to resolve the cases by agreement.
Bus Vannin is urged to make an immediate payment of £400 to the drivers representing the 2012 pay award. It proposes a joint commission is established between the parties to discuss the way the new contracts were implemented and address the concerns of the drivers, as well as the views of the management. An independent expert would be brought in to facilitate the discussions.
The idea behind the commission would be to try to reach a consensus on driving operations over the coming months/years. If settlement terms could be agreed, the tribunal claims would conclude, the offer states. Additional compensation may be payable, it adds.
It is understood Bus Vannin rejected the offer on the basis that a joint expert could prove costly. It said it wanted to ensure efficiencies achieved through the new contracts are maintained. The Department of Community, Culture and Leisure declined to comment ahead of the tribunal.