70% of those who voted in an indicative ballot on whether they would consider strike action after the latest pay offer was rejected in November.

Manx Care offered a 4% pay uplift with effect from 1 April 2024 for staff employed at the time an agreement is reached. This was the third offer that has been made for this pay period and previous offers were rejected by staff side. The RCN was left concerned that the offer did not include back-pay for those who had already left Manx Care in the months since the offer should have been implemented and, once again, challenged Manx Care on this matter. 

The RCN North West regional board, TU Committee and Council agreed that a indicative ballot asking members working for Manx Care if they would be willing to take strike action would take place following the rejected offer in November.  The survey ran from midday on Wednesday 26 February 2025 until midday on Wednesday 12 March 2025.

North West Regional Director for the RCN, Simon Browes, said: “The result of this ballot speaks for itself.  Our members do not feel like they are being heard and believe that taking action is necessary to bring about a resolution.  The RCN has been clear since the start of this process, that industrial action is always a last resort, but we are also clear that the skill, professionalism, and safety critical work of nursing staff has historically been undervalued, and that patients are being put at risk due to the staffing crisis on the Isle of Man.

“Whilst next steps will need to be discussed, the majority of our members have made their voices clear. We are now in a position to proceed to a statutory ballot on industrial action, allowing our members to lawfully strike. We are asking Manx Care to consider this strong message and to continue negotiations with our members.”