Northern Ireland Water strike could see thousands cut off

Thousands of households face their water being cut off if strike action by Northern Ireland Water staff goes ahead.

Two unions representing workers at the firm say they want a 5.5 per cent increase and a one off £1,500 payment “which all other civil service workers have received”.

In statements issued on Wednesday both Unite and GMB unions warned that if strike action goes ahead it will be the first time NIW staff have downed tools since December 2014.

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GMB said the action would lead to “chaos” and “mass water disruption” if Finance Minister Caoimhe Archibald does not come up with the cash.

Both unions are undertaking “full industrial action ballots” which are due to end in the coming days. The unions have written to the minister to “highlight the risk of strike action commencing in the middle of December”.

They say the business case for the payment has been authorised by NI Water and by the Department for Infrastructure but it has to be signed off by the Department for Finance.

In a review of the December 2014/January 2015 NI Water strike carried out by the Utility Regulator, they outlined the impact of the industrial action on water supplies.

The report stated: “The withdrawal of out of hours working meant that faults, which would be repaired quickly in normal circumstances, resulted in failure or shutdown of some plant. Shutdowns at water treatment works in these circumstances resulted in consumers losing their water supply.

“At first, the impact of the industrial action was mitigated by a protocol between NI Water and trade unions aimed at protecting public health and vulnerable consumers. On 5 January 2015 the trade unions withdrew their support for the protocol and the situation deteriorated quickly.

“Water supplies to just over 33,000 properties were disrupted for more than six hours. At the peak of the disruption on 19 January 10,600 properties were without water. A total of 13,780 properties went without water for more than twenty-four hours.”

Speaking today, Unite regional officer Joanne McWilliams said: “The minister must act quickly to avert the risk of a disruptive dispute. Everyone else - the employer and the department for infrastructure - has agreed that this payment should finally go to these workers but her department is now holding it up.

“It is completely unacceptable that water workers are still waiting for a payment all other civil service workers received months ago. Our members will not accept being treated unfairly.”

GMB regional organiser Alan Perry said: “Our members voted overwhelmingly for strike action in a consultative ballot. If they come back and vote the same way in the industrial ballot then our unions will provide seven-day strike notice on the employer.

“Unless minister Archibald moves, the prospect is that water workers will be on picket lines in the next two weeks. The window of opportunity to avoid this strike is rapidly shrinking – the minister needs to act and act quickly to avoid what will be a hugely disruptive strike.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Finance said: “The pay remit was received by the Department of Finance on 18 November. Department of Finance officials are currently completing the normal due diligence to ensure that the NI Water approach to the pay award is affordable enabling essential public services and public sector employment to be sustainably funded going forward.

“The Finance Minister understands the concerns of the Unions and the Department is progressing the business case as a matter of urgency.”

An NI Water spokesperson said: “We are aware of ongoing ballot and continue to liaise with relevant parties.”

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