Manx doctors to ballot for industrial action

BMA announce the move in hopes of 12.6% uplift in pay

Doctors employed by Manx Care on the Isle of Man are to ballot for industrial action.

It will be the first time they have been balloted for industrial action.

The British Medical Association says it is asking for a 12.6 percent uplift in pay for the 23/24 financial year.

The BMA says: "Just like thousands of consultants and resident doctors in the UK, the majority of doctors working on the Isle of Man have experienced real terms pay cuts since 2008 - some by as much as 29 percent.

"This will be the first time that doctors on the Isle of Man have been balloted for industrial action.

"Since 2008, inflation on the island has increased by 56.3% while the maximum consultant’s salary increased by just 27.3% over the same period, a real terms cut of 29%. 

"While scores of other doctors across the UK have successfully negotiated pay deals, doctors on the Isle of Man risk being left behind, as they are not eligible for the pay increases that other consultants, residents and SAS doctors have achieved."

Chair of the Isle of Man Medical Society, Dr Prakash Thiagarajan said: “No doctor wants to go on strike, but we’ve been trying to improve working conditions for doctors on the Isle of Man by other means for years, to no avail. 

"Doctors on the Isle of Man deserve to be paid fairly for the work they do. Manx Care can still stop this from going any further by addressing the severe real terms pay cuts that Isle of Man doctors have endured.”

Chair of council of the BMA, Professor Phil Banfield added: “I’ve heard from doctors on the Isle of Man how deeply frustrated they are. They are over stretched and underpaid.

"Resident, consultant and SAS doctors across the UK have successfully taken action and started the journey to restoring the relative lost value of their pay for the work they do. Doctors on the Isle of Man deserve the same.

"The BMA stands ready to support Manx doctors in fighting for appropriate recognition of their skills and expertise.” 

The BMA will announce the dates of the ballot in the next few weeks. 

If there is a majority vote, then doctors will be eligible to take industrial action. 

On the Island, 155 doctors will be able to vote in the ballot, including residents, consultants, and salaried GPs. 

These make up nearly all the doctors on the Island. 

A small group of doctors - specialty trainee doctors who work on the island but are employed by the North-West lead employer, and partner GPs will not be eligible. 

Manx Radio has approached Manx Care for comment.