The Trades Union Council has accused the DoI of creating a “misleading” picture of the ongoing bus driver dispute.
It said it has sought to clarify the process of negotiations, pushing back against what it described as the narrative presented by the DoI.
“The Council is concerned by the narrative currently being presented by the Department of Infrastructure in relation to the dispute,” a Facebook post said.
The union council stressed that formal notification of strike action was provided in accordance with the Trade Unions Act 1991, adding that the union had remained available to engage through the Manx Industrial Relations Service (MIRS).
Misleading
It warned that recent statements from the Department risked creating a misleading impression regarding the drivers’ willingness to talk.
“Recent statements which may give the impression that the department has been sitting directly across the table in negotiations with union representatives do not fully reflect the process currently being used,” the council stated.
The body noted that the union had provided the department with a list of proposals at the beginning of February, information which has not been made public.
“If the dispute is to be discussed publicly, it is important that the public are able to see the full context of what has been proposed and where the points of disagreement genuinely lie,” the post added.
The council also addressed references to public subsidy, adding: “The workforce is not responsible for the structure of that funding.”