Representatives of Fórsa’s Local Government and Municipal Employees divisions met today (Monday) to consider an invitation to talks on Government proposals to change the relationship between Irish Water and local authorities, which currently deliver most water services on the ground.
A decision on whether to engage in negotiations will be taken after a meeting between unions and Minister Eoghan Murphy, due to take place on Thursday (6th December).
Today’s special joint meeting of the two divisions was set up after the minister invited unions to engage in a WRC-assisted process aimed at creating a framework for the proposed transfer to a single water utility by 2021. This would be four years before the expiry of existing service level agreements (SLAs) between Irish Water and local councils.
Fórsa is adamant that local authority staff should not be forced to transfer to a new entity against their will. The union, which represents water staff in local authorities and Irish Water, also wants a referendum to guarantee that water services stay in public ownership.
Fórsa is adamant that local authority staff should not be forced to transfer to a new entity against their will. The union, which represents water staff in local authorities and Irish Water, also wants a referendum to guarantee that water services stay in public ownership.
In a letter to unions last month, departmental officials conveyed the minister’s offer of talks, which would “address the concerns of workers on future deployment of the current local authority water staff” through a collective agreement. At the same time, the talks would address a new ‘framework’ to replace existing SLAs.
Discussions facilitated by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) took place over the summer. The WRC’s report noted that all parties agreed on the need for continued involvement of local authority water staff in the delivery of water services, and that unions oppose any transfer of staff to Irish Water without agreement.
Fórsa national secretary Peter Nolan said the process would be difficult, and warned the Government that the outcome was not predetermined.
“We will expect this engagement to deliver security for local authority staff, constitutional guarantees that Irish Water will stay in public ownership, and a sustainable future role for local government,” he said. The union has frequently complained that local council functions are being diminished.
We will expect this engagement to deliver security for local authority staff, constitutional guarantees that Irish Water will stay in public ownership, and a sustainable future role for local government,” he said. The union has frequently complained that local council functions are being diminished.
Peter added that the department had signalled its intention to address staff concerns without using existing legislation to transfer staff against their will. “It has been a paramount concern of Fórsa that this legislation would not be used to compulsorily transfer staff to Irish Water,” he said.