Industrial action 'almost inevitable' over transfer of water services

The trade union Fórsa has stated industrial action over the proposed transfer of 3,500 local authority staff to Irish Water is “almost inevitable” as poor engagement has left a “huge gap” between government plans and the protections workers are seeking.

Fórsa national secretary Peter Nolan said it was “almost impossible” see how the gap between the parties could be closed, and added that engagement between unions, the government, Irish Water and council employers had been “weakened to the point of incapacity.”

“The repeated failure to respond to union concerns, or even to show some respect to the people who use and provide our water infrastructure, makes me think that industrial action is almost inevitable. The only question is when,” he said.

Mr. Nolan said industrial action would likely result in “a settlement that could have been achieved without recourse to strike action.”

He also warned that a new national water authority would fail without staff engagement and buy-in.