Unite – GMB joint trade union press release

NI Water and NI Water Alpha employees in Unite and GMB preparing to take industrial action

Trade unions Unite and the GMB have warned finance minister Caoimhe Archibald that she risks a potentially disruptive strike in the water and waste water service. The warning came after unions receivedcorrespondence from the minister stating that while she had received the business case for a pay award for 2023-24 from the department of infrastructure, she was awaiting a due diligence review on its affordability.

Both unions are currently undertaking full industrial action ballots which are due to end in the coming days. The unions wrote to the minister recently to highlight the risk of strike action commencing in the middle of December.

This would be the first industrial action in NI Water in 10 years and the first involving NI Water Alpha workers – meaning the strike will have a substantially greater impact.

Workers are seeking a 5.5 per cent increase and a one off £1550 payment which all other civil service workers have received. The business case for the payment has been authorised by NI Water and by the department for infrastructure but it now has to obtain agreement from the department for finance.

Unite regional officer Joanne McWilliams said: “The minister must act quickly to avert the risk of a disruptive dispute. Everyone else – the employer and the department for infrastructure – has agreed that this payment should finally go to these workers but her department is now holding it up. 

“It is completely unacceptable that water workers are still waiting for a payment all other civil service workers received months ago. Our members will not accept being treated unfairly.”

“GMB regional organiser Alan Perry said, “Our members voted overwhelmingly for strike action in a consultative ballot. If they come back and vote the same way in the industrial ballot then our unions will provide seven-day strike notice on the employer.

“Unless minister Archibald moves, the prospect is that water workers will be on picket lines in the next two weeks. The window of opportunity to avoid this strike is rapidly shrinking – the minister needs to act and act quickly to avoid what will be a hugely disruptive strike.”