Sinn Féin Councillor Conor D. McGuinness has said that Waterford faces the prospect of more strike action by water workers as the Government and LGMA refuse to enter talks with the UNITE trade union over the future of jobs and public water services. Last month Sinn Féin secured cross-party support on Waterford City and County Council in calling for Government to engage with water workers, to protect their jobs and to announce a date for a referendum on public ownership of water services.
Speaking during the recent 48 hour work stoppage by water workers McGuinness said:
“No worker wants to be on strike. Water services workers are fighting to defend public services and to protect their jobs and conditions. I support them as both a trade unionist and as a public representative. Last month Waterford City and County Council unanimously passed a Sinn Féin motion in solidarity with these workers and their campaign.
“Water workers in my own union UNITE have already undertaken one 24 hour and one 48 hour strikes with the dispute set to escalate. SIPTU members have also balloted for strike action.
“These workers are also campaigning for a referendum to enshrine public ownership of water services in the constitution. This is something that the government parties belatedly agreed to do following a long campaign involving Sinn Féin and the trade union movement. The Minister needs to set a date for a referendum now.
“Last week there was a significant water outage in Dungarvan and water workers went all out to get supply restored before their strike began. During the strike workers in West Waterford ensured that an ESB Networks fault affecting the Deer Park treatment plant in Lismore could be fixed to get water flowing to homes in the area. These are essential workers and they must be listened to.
“Minister Darragh O’Brien could end this dispute immediately by directing his officials and the Local Government Management Agency to engage with UNITE. While there are significant issues to discuss, this current dispute is about the refusal of the LGMA to sit down and speak with the union.
“There is no excuse for union representatives to be locked out of talks. Why is the Minister content to allow this dispute to escalate in order to avoid talking to the union?
“Water workers deserve to be heard and they deserve to have their concerns addressed.”
Conor D. McGuinness TD 