Local Authority Water Service Workers Going On Strike Today

Friday, 30 June 2023 at 08:16

10 local authorities will be affected.

Water service workers are on strike in 10 local authorities today.

The Unite trade union says it wants a guarantee that staff being moved from councils to Uisce Éireann will keep their public service status.

Water workers in Fingal, South Dublin, Louth, Waterford, Carlow, Tipperary, Cork and Galway councils are taking part in strike action for 24 hours, by withdrawing labour and staging pickets.

Unite says it wants a commitment that water staff transferring from local authorities to Uisce Éireann keep their public service status.

The Department of Housing says it's working with councils to keep water supplies going and a spokesperson says the strike notice is "wholly unjustified and disproportionate".

Workers want strengthening of the protection of staff involved in water services and for the government to specify a date and wording for a referendum enshrining public ownership of Ireland’s water system in the Constitution.

Some 100 water service staff working for councils across the country are on strike.

Unite says staff fear they'll lose their public service status if they move to Uisce Éireann.

Eoin Drummey, Regional Officer in Waterford, says they want to be able to voice their concerns: