Fórsa officials and other union reps are to give evidence on the future delivery of water services at a hearing of the Oireachtas committee on housing, planning and local government.

A written submission from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has already been submitted. It reiterates union opposition to Irish Water’s plans for a single water authority, which would take over local authority operations. And it calls for an early date for a referendum on keeping water services in public ownership.

Separately, at the February meeting of Fórsa’s Local Government Council, Irish Water’s chief executive Jerry Grant supported the view that water services should stay in public hands. The council includes representatives of all Fórsa branches with members in its Local Government Division.

The union has sought assurances that neither the Government nor Irish Water will unilaterally change current arrangements, which are based on ‘service level agreements’ (SLAs) between Irish Water and local authorities. Fórsa will also oppose any plan to transfer staff out of local authorities without their agreement.
 
Last year, Irish Water outlined its intention to create a single water agency and employer by 2021, four years before the expiry of current service level agreements with local authorities. Fόrsa favours streamlining the existing SLA model instead.

Meanwhile, Fórsa has recommended a Workplace Relations Commission proposal dealing with the introduction of hand-held technology, which has put additional responsibilities on the staff concerned.