Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

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.

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