Sinn Féin Councillor Conor D. McGuinness has called on the Minister for Housing and Local Government Darragh O’Brien to intervene to address the concerns of water services workers and to end their industrial dispute with local authorities across the state.
McGuinness said:
“Water workers across the state are deeply worried by moves to transfer their jobs to Irish Water. They have sought assurances that their work conditions will be protected and that water services will be kept in public ownership.
“While local authorities such as Waterford City and County Council are the employers here, it is Government policy that is driving and prolonging the dispute. It cannot end without the intervention of the Minister. It is simply not acceptable that he has washed his hands of responsibility and gove to ground.
“Members of my own union UNITE have already engaged in a one-day strike with an escalation very likely in the coming days. SIPTU has balloted for industrial action and its members may yet take strike action in defence of their conditions of employment.
“Water services are essential to individual and communities across the state. Having dependable localstaff with hugely valuable experience and knowledge is critical to maintaining safe and secure provision of water to homes and businesses.
“We need to see solid guarantees given that conditions will not be impacted and Government needs to set a date for a referendum on public ownership of water services. It is no longer tenable for Darragh O’Brien to sit on his hands.”
ENDS
Conor D. McGuinness TD 