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Water shortage problems in Northern Ireland

Water Charges In Ireland

Water shortage problems in Northern Ireland have eased overnight but more than 1,200 customers remain cut off due to the industrial dispute impacting the supply company.

 

Northern Ireland Water reported an improved picture this morning as union members mull over a management offer aimed at ending the action that at one stage earlier this week left around 9,000 properties with dry taps.

Bosses at the Government-owned company tabled proposals designed to resolve the pensions row during late-night negotiations with union leaders at the Labour Relations Agency in Belfast.

Around 1,250 properties in the region remained without supply due to the dispute.

Out-of-hours repair services are not being carried out as normal as the result of a work-to-rule by staff over proposed changes to their pension scheme.

Counties Fermanagh and Tyrone in the west of Northern Ireland are the areas worst affected by supply problems, with customers having to collect water from temporary tanks, and some even being forced to boil snow.

Around half of NI Water’s 1,260 workforce are engaged in the industrial action.

As the union members considered the renewed offer from management, the chief executive of NI Water, Sara Venning, and the Stormont minister with overall responsibility for the company, Danny Kennedy, appeared before an Assembly committee emergency meeting.

The dispute centres on NI Water’s bid to roll out public sector pension reforms that have already been implemented in other state organisations in the region.

Staff are resisting the moves, claiming their monthly pension contributions are set to soar.

Regional Development Minister Mr Kennedy told members of his scrutiny committee that he was determined to see a successful resolution.

“My focus has always been to resolve this dispute and to address the dreadful situation people across the province find themselves in,” he said.

He added: “At the end of the day the buck stops here. I’m clear about that. I have responsibilities. Others can be armchair generals if they want.

“Ultimately faced with the situation that we have, I believe that I have acted in a responsible way and I want to see this dispute resolved for the good of everybody.”

 

Article in todays Belfast Telegraph

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