Staff in local authorities are to ballot on strike action in protest at Government plans for reforms to water services.
The trade union Siptu said that around 2,500 staff including water/sewerage caretakers, networks staff, plumbers and Inspectors would take part in the ballot.
Siptu said the move followed the decision of the Department of the Environment to transfer assets and duties of its members to Bord Gáis and other contractors as part of the reforms.
The Government announced last month that a new State water utility, to be known as Irish Water, was to be established. The Government also announced that the contract to run the company had been awarded to Bord Gáis Éireann, of which Irish Water will become a subsidiary.
Siptu said that at meetings held around the country existing water staff had expressed anger at the decision of the Department to proceed to remove their jobs and responsibilities and transfer these out of the local authority system “with no consultation and no discussions with people who have worked for decades delivering water services”.
The union said that all the regional meetings had endorsed a proposal to proceed to conduct a ballot for industrial action, including all out strike action. It said this would involve some 2,500 staff across the country.
Siptu sector organiser Michael Wall said: “Contrary to all assurances given previously, it now seems that the Department is proceeding to put in place a transfer of assets and work, which are our member’s jobs, to an outside agency and private contractors. No discussions have taken place, no forum for consultation has been established and no assurances have been given to staffs who has given long and professional service to the Irish public over generations”
The union said the strike ballot would commence in the coming weeks and will cover all local authorities.
