WORK AT A water treatment plant which facilitates almost 250,000 people has stopped due to strike action over pay and conditions.
Workers downed tools at 6.30am this morning in Shanganagh Waste Water Treatment Plant when management failed to refer a dispute to the Labour Relations Court, according to SIPTU
The plant treats domestic and commercial water for people in Wicklow and Dublin.
Workers voted for industrial action on 25 April but conciliation talks were held in the Labour Relations Court with management. However, agreement was not reached on key issues of pay and premium shift payments.
SIPTU Sector Organiser, Martin Meere, said: “Our members were prepared to lift the strike action on referral of the outstanding issues to the Labour Court for an early hearing. Unfortunately the employers have declined to take up this offer leaving the workers with no option but to commence industrial action.”
Plant worker, Jeff Jones, said: “None of us has ever been involved in an industrial dispute before. We are working a 24-hour, 52 weeks a year, shift pattern, including public holidays, for a rate applied to day workers. All we are seeking is fair pay for the hours and shifts that we work.”
SDD Shanganagh Water Treatment Ltd is a joint venture between Irish construction company, John Sisk & Son Ltd and two Spanish companies – Dragados S.A. and Drace Medio-Ambiente S.A.
The operation is licensed by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.
A statement from SDD said the plant was operating as normal today despite the industrial and the company would continue to engage with workers.
“SDD has been involved in a process for several weeks with SIPTU and the workers at Shanganagh Waste Water Treatment plant to seek to resolve some outstanding issues. Significant progress has been made on a number of these issues,” it said.
We wished to continue in this process, but unfortunately SIPTU have chosen to reject an offer of a 2% pay increase and to opt out calling a strike instead. The workers were employed on an annual salary which took account of the shift pattern required to operate the plant.”
Read: ‘Industrial peace’ on the way if unions accept pay proposals >
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