The Infrastructure Minister has said the department’s contingency plans for the bus driver’s strike have been successful.
Unite the Union members are on strike this week, with Bus Vannin operating a limited service in its place.
Tim Crookall was responding to a question in the House of Keys from Jason Moorhouse about what negotiations are taking place to end the industrial action and how effective the contingency plans have been.
Mr Crookall told MHKs: “The department’s contingency plans, with the support of the public, have been successful. Some core services to the hospital and between the towns and Douglas have been maintained.”
He said reports from health, education, the police and highways had indicated there were “no significant issues”, although the level of service had varied day to day depending on driver availability.
Dispute
On the ongoing pay dispute, Mr Crookall confirmed that negotiations were continuing with the support of the Manx Industrial Relations Service, with a further session expected to take place yesterday afternoon.
He said the format involved the union and department in separate rooms, with MIRS acting as a go-between.
He told the House: “I found it a bit strange when I call a meeting and said it’s not meeting, but I’m absolutely desperate to try and sort this out.”
Mr Crookall also confirmed that senior staff, including the director of transport, had been driving buses to maintain services.
He said: “Mr Bates, who’s obviously the director of transport, is taking part in that. So he’s out driving at the moment as we speak, but this afternoon, he will come into the office to help.”