Helping our members on the Isle of Man through the pandemic

Prospect negotiating officer Mick Hewer gives a snapshot of how the union has been helping its members on the Isle of Man during the coronavirus pandemic.

Prospect has approximately 2,500 members on the Isle of Man, and just as with our membership across the UK, their working and personal lives have all been deeply impacted by COVID-19.

Being a small island, with its own legislature and unique system of government, the challenges and consequences for the Isle of Man are slightly different from the rest of the UK.

Since mid-April, there have been repatriation sailings bringing back residents who had been stranded abroad when the outbreak first forced borders to close.

But, unhindered travel between the island and the UK is not expected to return in the immediate future. For now, all visitors need pre-approval, for reasons such as genuine compassionate grounds or being a key worker.

It was revealed on Monday that there was just one active case of COVID-19 left on the Isle of Man. Overall, as of 1st June, there had been 336 cases, with 24 deaths on the island. There have been no new positive tests since 20 May.

This has allowed the lockdown on the Isle of Man to be gradually eased. ‘Lifestyle’ businesses, such as hairdressers and tattoo parlours have started opening this week. Restaurants and cafes can now serve food in outdoor areas too.

Prospect

However, life is still far from normal and through the entire 11-week lockdown period, Prospect representatives have seen a significant increase in members contacting us for advice and assistance.

As well as the conversations held in the workplace on a daily basis we are dealing with, or have already dealt with the following:

• 178 individual voicemail messages via our office number (excludes direct contact with individual representatives)
• A significant increase in the number of members seeking advice via direct email to workplace reps or the full-time officer
• An increase in the number of members seeking advice via our manx.net general enquiry email address
• 17 new cases opened and taken on by Reps as opposed to giving verbal advice only
• Five COVID-19 specific cases opened (as opposed to advice only)
• 88 active open cases (as of 5pm on 30th May 2020)
• Messages also picked up from our Isle of Man Facebook page

Numbers, of course, can only ever tell part of the story.

We have resisted employers’ attempts to rush through investigations and disciplinary hearings, citing COVID-19 restrictions as an excuse to not follow normal procedures.

We have also, in some cases, seen significant delays to investigations being undertaken in a timely manner due to investigating officers being unavailable.

Where possible the day-to-day operational discussion and meetings with employers has continued through Microsoft Teams and Zoom. In addition, there has been a significant increase in telephone contact with employers.

Education

Prospect represents more than 200 education professionals on the island across a diverse range of roles, such as caretakers, site managers, cleaners, caterers, administrators, educational support officers, ancillary and maintenance staff across 34 schools.

Initially, it was thought that school closures would be fairly brief and they would be able to return to normal after the Easter break. But this didn’t happen.

A number of teaching unions, including Prospect, formed a COVID-19 working party and agreed to discuss, assess, plan, implement and evaluate responses to the pandemic and its effects on the education sector as one collective representing body.

Prospect has been involved with these discussions from the outset and has always taken the view that the safety and wellbeing of our members and pupils is paramount.

Prospect’s education reps reported:

• A lack of communication from the IOM Department of Education
• A lack of PPE and cleaning materials
• A lack of any clear Risk Assessment and associated agreed ‘Standard Operating Procedures’ to mitigate against those COVID-19 risks

As a result of pressure put on the Department of Education, both publicly and during meetings with senior officials, Prospect has been able to influence the ‘Road Map to reopening Schools’ which is now being rolled out fully across all schools on the island.

Instead of a sudden, uncontrolled wider opening of schools, an incremental process was proposed in which provision is opened up, in a manageable way, to different groups.

These developments in the education sector is a good example of how Prospect has been assisting its members, and also helping to shape the island’s response to COVID-19.

More information: Prospect Isle of Man Facebook page