Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is very committed to this. Under the framework that has been agreed, there are a number of attractive options for water services workers including full protection of terms and conditions for those who choose to remain in their local authority. For workers in particular, it sets out the options that will become available generally and empowers each worker to decide voluntarily on the option which is best suited to their own individual needs. Other unions have taken a different approach to Unite the Union on this. Recent commitments given by the Minister to water services workers on protection of earnings and allowances, in our view, should provide adequate reassurance to Unite members that they will benefit from the multiple options available to them under the framework. We do not believe there is a need for this industrial action at all.

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