Fórsa alongside Siptu, Connect and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has collectively written to members affected by the transfer of water services from local authorities to Uisce Éireann to update them on matters relating to the implementation of the Framework for the Future Delivery of Public Water Services.

The Framework, which sets out the process for local authority water services staff who wish to remain as local authority workers, provides for a voluntary severance scheme to be made available to local authority water services workers. Following engagement, staff will now be provided with the opportunity to express and interest in availing of the voluntary severance scheme in the early weeks of 2024.

Head of Local Government and Local Services and the Municipal Employees’ Divisions Richy Carrothers welcomed this progress, saying that it is “a positive step and one the union group has worked hard to secure.” It is anticipated that information on the scheme including a mechanism to allow workers calculate the value of the scheme will be provided through each local authority.

Elsewhere, the union side has continued to press the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) to ensure that the public water services are sufficiently resourced, and that where staff vacancies arise, they are filled in line with the terms of the framework. Local authorities issued recent communications outlining the cessation of acting arrangements in local authority water services on the 31st December 2023, a unilateral decision that was only communicated to unions after the event. Richy described the move as “extremely unhelpful and damaging”.

“At the most recent meeting of the Irish Water Consultative Group (IWCG) we pointed to the damaging impact of this decision. Following these representations, Uisce Éireann and the LGMA have agreed that existing fixed term contracts or acting arrangements due to finish by the 31st December 2023 can be extended for a maximum period to no later than the 31st March 2024. This is to enable Uisce Éireann to make arrangements for the filling of these posts,” said Richy.

Additionally, the union group is continuing to call on Government to “live up to its commitments” and hold a referendum on the public ownership of water services. Government has repeatedly failed to act on its promise to stage a referendum on water ownership, despite it being in the Programme for Government agreed in July 2020.

“Privatised water services result in higher costs and poorer services for the public. Public ownership of water services ensures safe and sustainable access to water for everyone. It is critical that we continue to press Government to name the date to keep water public,” said Richy.

The coalition of unions behind the ‘Keep Water Public’ campaign urged the decision makers to name the date and encouraged members to get behind the campaign by signing this petition.

The full update to members can be found here and members can expect further communications in the new year.

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