Industrial action suspended after finance minister signs off on business case

Waterworkers in Northern Ireland have today agreed to suspend planned industrial action due to commence on Tuesday 10 December. Unions will now ballot their members on the proposed pay offer which includes a five per cent pay increase and a one-off payment of £1,500.

The workforce rep meeting was convened following confirmation from the department for infrastructure that the department of finance had authorised the business case for a proposed pay increase. The pay increase provides water workers with the same increase as all other civil servants received for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

Unite regional officer Joanne McWilliams said, “This workforce has been waiting for 21 months for a pay increase all other civil servants have already received. Disgracefully it took the threat of industrial action at the heart of winter by low-paid water workers to break the ministerial log-jam holding up this money.

“As an act of good faith industrial action has been suspended to allow members to be balloted on the new offer.”

The unions’ ballot on the offer is due to close by Wednesday 11December 2024.

Both unite and the GMB unions are involved in the dispute.

ENDS…

For further information or to arrange an interview contact Donal O’Cofaigh, Unite campaigns, communications and press (NI) tel. 07810 157926.