Manx public sector workers secure 4% pay rise

Public sector workers including civil servants, manual and craft workers and education support staff have been awarded a 4% pay rise for the last financial year.

Unions Prospect and Unite have accepted the increase offered by the Public Services Commission (PSC), backdated to 1 April 2024.

Prospect has also agreed to a 2.5% rise for 2025-26, but negotiations with Unite over the award for that year would continue, the PSC said.

Members of Tynwald will also receive the uplift, which will see workers employed by the PSC be paid at the new rate of pay with from 1 May.

However, public sector workers who ceased employment before that date would not be entitled to receive any increase or arrears of pay from the agreement, the PSC confirmed.

The two-year deal also included an additional one-off £200 non-consolidated payment, to be made pro-rata in line with hours worked, as well the harmonisation of annual leave.

Previously, nearly 74% of Unite union members and 51% of Prospect union members who took part in a vote rejected the deal.

Unite said an indicative ballot of its members in mid-March had found the majority of who responded would be willing to take part in industrial action over pay.

Prospect negotiations officer Mick Hewer previously called for the funds to be released immediately to those who were entitled to the rise.

PSC chairman Rob Callister MHK previously said workers needed to get the uplift they "deserve", but there were "financial pressures" within the Manx government.

In June last year, the commission offered workers a 2% rise for 2024-25, and for each of the following two years.

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