A BALLOT FOR industrial action of SIPTU members employed in local authority water services is due to get underway in the coming weeks, as workers ask for consultation on the transfer of services to Irish Water.
Meetings of 2,500 inspectors, network staff, plumbers and caretakers have been taking place across the country following a decision by the Department of the Environment to begin transferring water service assets and job roles to Bord Gáis and sub-contractor companies, according to SIPTU.
In April Fianna Fáil raised concerns about the jobs of thousands of people currently employed in water services, following the announcement of the establishment of a new State body called Irish Water.
The government said at the time that possible staff reductions will be a matter for Irish Water, which will be an independent, State-owned subsidiary of Bord Gáis. Public Expenditure minister Brendan Howlin has described Irish Water as the biggest State company since the ESB was founded, and said that it was being established under Bord Gáis because of the company’s experience in the operation of a metered energy system.
SIPTU sector organiser Michael Wall says that no discussions or consultations have taken place about the transfer of assets and work, and that workers have been given “no assurances concerning future terms and conditions of employment”.
A Bord Gáis spokesperson has told TheJournal.ie that it has been engaging with the Department of Environment and others in relation to developing an implementation plan.
The spokesperson estimated that it would take approximately 12 weeks from the announcement of the establishment of Irish Water in mid April to develop such a plan.
Bord Gáis said that there are a lot of issues to be looked at to get to the stage before a detailed map of how to proceed can be produced.
The government has previously said that it will be a “considerable period of time” before agency for water services is transferred from local authorities to Irish Water. However it says that it will “ultimately be a matter for Irish Water to determine the staffing and skills required for the new organisation”.
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