Time for some Manx politicians to make a 'career change'

There has been dissatisfaction with the performance of a number of Manx politicians for some time now. Not least in their unquestioning timidity in following the economic agenda of the Manx Chamber of Commerce. Whose primary aim appears to be to the desire to reduce labour costs and drive down the living standards of Manx working people. The latest attack on conditions of employment on the Isle of Man is aimed at Manx postal workers, in what the Manx branch of the  Communications Workers' Union terms an "outrageous attack on their job security, pensions and terms and conditions of employment". As a result Members of the Communications Workers' Union have voted on strike action. The result of the ballot to strike saw a ninety-three per cent vote 'yes', with there being a ninety-one per cent turnout. At the same time there is overwhelming public support for the postal workers. 

Predictably, the response by some Manx politicians is to do all that is necessary to break the strike. In an article Bernard Moffatt of the Celtic League points to how out of touch with the people these politicians have become. He goes on to say: 'I hope that good sense prevails on both sides and a viable agreement that will satisfy that 90%+ of postal workers can be achieved.' As he points out, a failure of Manx politicians to support working people: 'may find a career change beckons at the next election!.' His article taken from Mannin Branch of the Celtic League is below:

ALF AND JULIE: ‘AS MUCH USE AS A CHOCOLATE FIREGUARD’

What mealy mouthed tosh from the Post Office Chair and CEO talking to Paul Moulton they say they ‘value their workforce’ and yet they have just forced that workforce into a damaging dispute.

In the ballot over (90%+ voted and of them over 90%+ for industrial action. That is a pretty creditable mandate to the CWU certainly in my experience of industrial disputes ballot margins were often much tighter. Indeed I think it was only the old seafaring Union the NUS that ever pulled in levels higher.

Watching this interview with Edge and ‘Mr Grey Suit’ and an earlier pre ballot result interview with Alf Cannan MHK I was struck by how remote these folk are. Alf really is arrogance personified. They project openly an air of superiority and for the first time I realise that these days politicians are completely divorced from the workers. These folk inhabit a world of ‘them and us’. Cannan has the temerity to criticise Terry Pullinger (CWU Union leader) for being thin on specifics then proceeds to evade or talk over straightforward queries from Paul Moulton - obfuscation springs to mind!

Let me give you an example. Many years ago when a damaging dispute was mooted at the IOM Airport the Minister for the DOT (the late Arnold Callin MHK/MLC) convened talks on site directly with the workforce and the Union commencing the meeting by saying ‘we will sit here until we have an agreement’. It was fractious both sides starting from apparently diametrically opposed views and yet at the end of the day we had an agreement that went to Tynwald and was approved - oh yes and it included pensions!

These days it seems Ministers or Quango Chairs are just figureheads and it begs the question why not get rid of Alf and Julie and let ‘Mr Grey Suit’ and Sheila Lowe run the Post Office and Treasury respectively. Alf and Julie may as well fill out their resignations it's clear when the chips are down they are much use as a chocolate fireguard.

I don’t know where this dispute is going but even at the eleventh hour I hope that good sense prevails on both sides and a viable agreement that will satisfy that 90%+ of postal workers can be achieved.

Next week in Tynwald the politicians will have a chance to make an impact when the Post Office is debated. I hope they weigh in and support working people in the Post Office who enjoy overwhelming public support - if not they may find a career change beckons at the next election!

Here are the links:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq5iUMWVl6k&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyQB5gq19P8&feature=youtu.be

Bernard Moffatt