Cork brown water: Unite demands action as tests confirm contamination ahead of protest

Posted on February 27, 2025 by unitetheunion

Iron and manganese levels render water unsuitable for human consumption

Protest set for Grand Parade on Saturday

Unite, which represents water service workers in Cork and around the country, today announced the results of tests carried out on Cork’s ‘brown water’. Unite had sent samples to a Health Services Executive (HSE) laboratory for testing following significant concerns regarding water quality in parts of Cork and surrounding areas. 

The HSE laboratory tests showed excessive levels of manganese at over 300 μg/l (parametric value 50) and iron at over 600 μg/l (parametric value 200).  The laboratory noted that “water with these levels of iron and manganese is not suitable for human consumption” and said that “treatment is recommended”.

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Retired workers meet communities’ minister Gordon Lyons demanding reversal of winter fuel payment cuts

Posted on February 27, 2025 by Unite the union NI
Unite Campaigners hand over thousands of public responses demanding restoration of the winter fuel payment for pensioners

Campaigners hand over thousands of submissions demanding restoration of universal payment and criticising after the fact DfC Equality Impact Assessment

Thousands of consultation responses demanding the restoration of the universal Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) were today (27 February) handed over to the department for communities (DfC) during a demonstration organised by Unite retired members. The consultations were received personally by communities’ minister Gordon Lyons who met with a delegation from the campaign.

The demonstration was joined by campaigners from across the anti-poverty movement as well as retired workers and pensioners who were demanding restoration of the winter fuel payment.

General secretary Sharon Graham said “Pensioners are being forced to choose between heating and eating. This cut is disgraceful, and the £100 offered as compensation is entirely inadequate. The department for communities must reverse this cruel policy immediately.”

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Retired workers to demonstrate at department for communities over winter fuel cut

Posted on February 25, 2025 by Unite the union NI

Thousands of consultation submissions to be handed over by Unite campaigners to communities minister Gordon Lyons

What: Protest by winter fuel campaigners at hand over of submissions to the department for communities

When: 14:00, Thursday 27 February 2025

Where: Department for communities (DfC), Causeway Exchange, 1-7 Bedford St, Belfast BT2 7EG.

Thousands of consultation responses demanding the total restoration of the universal winter fuel payment (WFP) will be handed to communities minister Gordon Lyons during a demonstration organised by Unite retired members on Thursday, 27 February. 

The protest follows the UK government’s decision to slash the WFP, restricting it to pensioners on means-tested benefits, such as pension credit. Within weeks, the Northern Ireland executive followed suit, excluding thousands of retired workers with modest, contribution-based pensions. The DfC’s £100 one-off payment per household falls far short of the original £200 per person benefit and has yet to be paid to pensioners.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “Pensioners are being forced to choose between heating and eating due to this cut is disgraceful. The department for communities must fully reverse this cruel policy immediately.”

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Government can’t allow break-up of Spirit Aerosystems due to impact on Northern Ireland economy

Posted on February 16, 2025 by Unite the union NI

Amidst recent and increasing speculation, Spirit workforce need guarantees for their future

Unite has challenged the government to intervene and secure clarity and guarantees for workers employed at Spirit Aerosystems in Northern Ireland. The call follows mounting press speculation over who is going to take on non-Airbus operations as part of the wider acquisition of the company by Boeing.

Airbus has publicly indicated its interest in taking on wing production lines for its A220 aircraft – in which 1,100 workers are employed. As yet there is no clarity on who is to take on the non-Airbus operations in which more than 2,600 workers are employed by Spirit in Northern Ireland.

General secretary of Unite, Sharon Graham said, “All Spirit workers especially those employed on non-Airbus lines need assurances about their futures. No one in government should be sitting back and allowing the break up of this company. That would inevitably result in huge damage to Northern Ireland’s aerospace sector.”

George Brash, Unite regional officer said, “All Spirit operations must transfer together to a single entity. That is the only option that secures these highly skilled jobs and the manufacturing capacity for the long-term.”

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Valentine’s message to Minister Burke: Show health care assistants some love!

Posted on February 13, 2025 by unitetheunion

Work permit minimum salary thresholds and family reunification rules must be reformed

Unite highlights anomalies which see long-serving HCAs earning less than new entrants

Migrant health care assistants (HCAs) held a protest today (Thursday) outside the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to demand urgent reform of the earnings rules which contribute to prolonging separation from their families. Workers also highlighted the anomaly which sees migrant HCAs on contracts pre-dating 1 January 2025 earning less than those on newer contracts.

Government rules mean that many migrant HCAs earn below the income threshold which would allow them to apply to bring family members to Ireland.

The government-mandated minimum salary increased in January for HCAs on new contracts. However, a lack of retrospection means migrant HCAs on existing contracts were excluded from last month’s increase, leaving them on minimum salaries of just over €27,000. This means that HCAs on existing contracts are not only earning below the family reunification threshold, but are also being paid less than new entrants performing the same role.

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