Strike brings chaos threat to water supply in North
A strike by up to 2,000 Water Service workers today could cause disruption to water supplies and a risk of environmental pollution in the North, the British government has warned.
Workers are staging a one day strike at the start of on-going industrial action in opposition to the government’s planned water reforms which unions say could result in up to 700 job losses.
Amid mounting opposition to the water service reforms, public rallies organised by the unions and organisations against the introduction of water rates are being staged in Belfast and Derry on Saturday.
The Department of Regional Development has pledged the Water Service is taking every reasonable precaution to provide essential normal water and sewerage services today.
But a spokesman said: “This is an almost unprecedented situation, with the possibility of some disruption to water supplies and the risk of environmental pollution.”
The Water Service said it was implementing established contingency plans for dealing with major incidents.
It had been liaising with the other emergency services – including the Fire Service, police and heath authorities – to safeguard public health, protect the environment and “maintain essential support to normal daily life in Northern Ireland”, said the spokesman.
The co-operation of the community would be a vital assistance in ensuring any service disruption was remedied as quickly as possible, he added.
The Water Service Unions – AMICUS, ATGWU, GMB and NIPSA – said the one day strike was the start of industrial action which would also involve a work to rule and withdrawal of goodwill.
“The Water Unions will be discussing over the next number of days escalation of the industrial action programme,” warned Bumper Graham, secretary to the unions.
The unions are opposed to what they say are government plans to set up a government-owned company to run the water service once water charges have been introduced for the public. They fear 700 jobs will be lost.
Mr Graham said Northern Ireland Minister John Spellar needed to realise there was no support for his reform proposals and that workers deserved to be treated fairly and not cast aside by his “ministerial dictates”.
“This is the minister who is supposed to be responsible for Human Rights but thinks he can set aside workers rights in the Water Service.
“He will witness water workers standing up for their rights and for the right to deliver this essential public service,” said Mr Graham.
NIPSA general secretary John Corey, supporting the strike action, said they were calling for round-table talks aimed at providing a solution to the problems facing the Water Service.
“Water Service workers are determined to fight for their jobs and to protect pensions and other hard earned terms and conditions,” he added.
