NI Water workers deserve our full support and solidarity. NI Water continues to be a state owned company but no longer part of the public sector. Water services across the UK were privatised over a decade ago by the Labour government. An attempt to introduce additional water charges in 2006 was resisted and consequently blocked by a mass campaign across the North. As a result of the unpopularity of increased water charges & the tremendous opposition it sparked in the South, Stormont politicians tend to avoid publicly advocating for them. Yet, the Assembly agreed in 2013 that water charges could be reintroduce 3 years later. It has also been revealed that millions of pounds have been spent to put water metres into some 35,000 newly built homes over last 8 years. The present Stormont budget includes massive budget cuts that will lead to thousands of job losses & lays the basis for further privatisation of public services. There is no doubt this will create increased levels of poverty, insecurity and social estrangement. NI Water workers are showing it’s possible and necessary to take collective action to defend their pensions, living standards and jobs. UNITE officer Joanne McWilliams said: NI Water is seeking to push cost-saving measures onto the backs our members who are already struggling to pay bills.” NI Water management is demanding workers increase their pension payments from between 1.5% or 3.5% to closer to 8%. Mainstream media outlets have produced sensationalist coverage of the many families who have been hard hit by serious service disruptions leading to demonization of NI Water workers, even accusations they are intentionally disrupting supplies. The fault for this crisis lies entirely with NI Water management and the Northern Ireland Stormont Executive. They are responsible for driving forward an austerity agenda that does not and will not benefit the vast majority of people. Anyone who is without water right now has a right to outraged; but they should direct their anger and fire at Assembly ministers and NI Water management. In taking such a brave stand they are speaking up for the vast majority of working class people from all communities :-the dismantling of hard-won workers’ rights and unions, and, the normalisation of growing poverty and chronic inequality. Shaun Harkin.
Posted on: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 11:45:59 +0000
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