SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, John King, has called on the incoming Government to honour a commitment, given on a number of occasions to trade unions, to hold a referendum to provide constitutional protection against the future privatisation of public water services.
SIPTU Sector Organiser, Brendan O’Brien said: “We are reiterating our position that the Government must honour the agreement reached with water services workers to hold a referendum on the ownership of our public water services.
“Our members want to see the incoming Government name the date for such a referendum in its Programme for Government. The commitment to hold such a referendum was demanded by and provided to our members during the water services transformation talks that have taken place over recent years. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien, has repeatedly stated that this commitment will be honoured.”
SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, John King, said: “Our members are extremely concerned at media reports which state that negotiators at the current government formation talks are seeking to backtrack on previous commitments to hold both a water referendum and one on making it a right of Irish citizens to be provided with adequate housing.
“If the incoming Government does not include a commitment to hold a referendum on the ownership of public water services it will damage one of the key pillars to the agreement made with trade unions which has underpinned the ongoing transformation of this utility.”
He added: “We are seeking an urgent meeting with the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael government negotiating teams. At this meeting, Union representatives will demand that they honour the agreements they made with our members to hold a referendum on water services and name the date on which this vote will take place.”