Time to Review Strike Laws?

Chief Minister Alf Cannan has said he wants the rules around industrial action looked at, but this doesn’t necessarily mean there will be any new laws introduced.

Mr Cannan was asked what actions his gov has taken to introduce legislation to prevent industrial action in schools by former teacher turned MHK Jason Moorhouse (Arbory, Castletown and Malew).

The issue arose due to an appearance by the Chief on Manx Radio’s Mannin Line where he said the island ‘can’t afford’ the pay rises demanded by the NASUWT and called the union’s position unreasonable.

He added: ‘If we’re going to continue on with this persistent, damaging, one-two day disruptive work to rule type environment, then the government is going to have to consider what legislation is going to be necessary to protect the future education of our children.’

However, speaking in Tynwald Mr Cannan said this did not mean he was looking to prevent industrial action.

He said: ‘I simply, merely indicated that it probably was time that we reviewed our legislative provisions around balloting for industrial action to make sure our laws in these cases and instances were up to date and reflected changing circumstances. It has been some considerable years since the Isle of Man last looked at this particular area.’

He also referenced changes in the UK in this time.

Saying that some chose to ‘leap on my comments to say that we were trying to shut down or stop industrial action’.

He added: ‘I am not making a commitment to introduce anything. I am just merely asking for this area to be looked at and reviewed. If there is a need to update legislation then we will, of course, be making sure that that is properly consulted on in any case.’