Unite the Union has says it has not watered down planned bus strike action, insisting its position on pay and conditions has not softened.
The union’s Regional Coordinating Officer, Debbie Halsall, issued a statement on Wednesday night in response to Infrastructure Minister Tim Crookall’s statements in Tynwald.
Mr Crookall had indicated a meeting was due to take place and that the DoI believed an agreement was in place to defer action to next week.
However, Ms Halsall said: “There was no meeting today between the union and the Department of Infrastructure. We have not agreed to scale down industrial action.
“We have not softened our position. We have not given any indication that Saturday’s action is being diluted.”
Ms Halsall confirmed a meeting took place on Tuesday at the Manx Industrial Relations Service, but said the two sides were in separate rooms and no agreement was reached.
Mandate
The union leader said she was acting under a “clear” mandate from members and said the core issues remain to be pay and proposed changes to sick pay and holidays.
She said: “We will not move on those. End of. If the department genuinely wants to avoid strike action on Saturday, the answer is straightforward — put a credible offer on the table. Until then, the action stands.”
The minister had told Tynwald the department remained committed to securing a resolution and was willing to make himself available for talks.
He said contingency plans for a strike with services for schools prioritised from Monday if the dispute continues.