Pay rise would mean job losses, claims Post Office chairman

The war of words between the Communication Workers Union and Isle of Man Post Office management has escalated.

A statement issued by them says they are disappointed, but not surprised the CWU is to ballot members over industrial action.

The statement says even before the first meeting on the matter the CWU threatened to do so, claiming this has angered Island residents and upset many people working within the Post Office.

Quoted within it, chairman of the Post Office Alan Crowe MLC warns any pay rise made through arbitration - which the CWU has requested - would have to be covered by the existing pay budget, necessitating job losses.

Mr Crowe says the Post Office has the power to make decisions independent of government, but adds they can be overridden by government.

He concludes by saying success has been shared in the past by regularly giving postal workers a pay rise and they hope to do so again in the future, but claims it's not possible this year.