Northern Ireland Water staff have called off strike action as workers have accepted a pay increase.
Members of unions Unite and GMB employed in NI Water and NI Water Alpha have voted decisively to accept a pay offer providing a five per cent increase and a one-off payment of £1,500. The pay deal was for the 2023-2024 fiscal year and has already been provided to all other civil service workers.
It comes after last week it was warned potential industrial action, which was due begin this week, could have "impacted the safety of water supplies" as frontline workers took to the picket lines.
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Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Thankfully sense has prevailed and the frontline workers who maintain the fresh water and waste water infrastructure have finally been given a pay increase all other civil servants have already received.
“Nonetheless it is shocking that it took planned strike action for ministers to authorise a long overdue pay award. The pay deal was only won through union strength and a willingness to take industrial action.”
Even with the pay deal, frontline workers at NI Water and NI Water Alpha will continue to be paid little more than the national minimum wage, including many skilled trades and craft workers. As a result NI Water is struggling to recruit and retain the workers it needs to maintain critical water infrastructure. The union issued a warning that this situation was unsustainable.
Unite regional officer Joanne McWilliams said: "This deal ends last year’s pay dispute but our members remain among the lowest paid water workers anywhere in the UK. It is little wonder that NI Water and NI Water Alpha are struggling to recruit and retain craft and trades workers when they pay them so little.
“Unite is putting the employer on notice that this situation is unsustainable and needs to change quickly. If it does not, we are very likely to see another industrial dispute develop. These frontline workers must be properly paid.”
Alan Perry, GMB Senior Organiser, said: "Our members remain some of the lowest paid within the sector, but this pay rise is welcome. It’s in line with what other public sector workers received - but the fact our members had to wait 20 months is not acceptable.
“GMB will demand NI Water uplift their hourly rate and give them their back pay as quickly as possible. We look forward to engaging with the employer in a timely manner in January to begin next year’s pay claim.”
English (United States) ·