Buses Hit The Brakes Again

Bus drivers have hit the brakes again as the latest round of strike action rolls on across the Isle of Man.

It marks the fifth (and supposedly final… for now) round of walkouts by Unite members in an ongoing dispute over pay and working conditions.

There’s already talk of more strikes on the horizon.

Infrastructure Minister Tim Crookall told the House of Keys this week both sides are still trying to hammer out a deal, but admitted they remain ‘a considerable way apart’.

So what does it mean for you?

Well, services are once again disrupted from today, with a reduced timetable in place.

There are backup options though, including the Manx Electric Railway up north and Steam Railway commuter runs between Douglas and the south (a slightly more scenic commute, if nothing else).

The row itself isn’t just about pay.

While drivers have already had a 3% rise this year, a revised offer could see that rise to around 7% by 2026.

But a big sticking point is changes to working arrangements, including a move from weekly to monthly pay.

The dispute has been rumbling on for months now, starting with a 10-day walkout back in February, and it’s already caused plenty of disruption for passengers trying to get around the island.

Talks are still ongoing with help from the Manx Industrial Relations Service, and the government insists it’s hopeful a resolution can be found before things drag into the Easter period or even TT.

But with another ballot looming… this saga might have a few more stops left yet.