Local authority staff strike threat
Mattie McGrath warned that SIPTU members in local authority services had voted for strike action over unresolved pay and allowance issues. The Minister said he would examine the matter with the LGMA and CCMA and come back on the specific case.
I hope the Taoiseach had a successful visit to Tipperary last Friday.
I hope the Taoiseach is aware that local authority services' SIPTU members have voted for strike action on 7 and 8 June because of an absolute failure on the part of local authorities to honour their commitment to these workers. These workers and their unions entered into discussions with management. Despite assurances from the Minister, local authorities have continued to display ambiguity and have introduced conditions in respect of allowances that will make these workers very much worse off.
These conditions, which were introduced by the Local Government Management Agency, LGMA, fall far short of the provisions of the water services framework and what was finalised by the parties in discussions last year.
Water services members are left with no option but to take this action. They do not want to do it. They are a vital cohort of people who keep the water flowing through our taps 24-7. They entered into negotiations but the LGMA and the local authorities are not honouring the agreements that were made. The workers in question are being forced to go where they do not want to go.
Comment on this
I thank the Deputy. We value the role of staff in all local authorities, especially those who are employed in the water services area. I will take up with both the LGMA and the CCMA the issue the Deputy raised, see exactly what the position is and get the facts of the case. Maybe we could have a discussion afterwards with regard to Tipperary specifically.