Union warns of stoppage over Council impasse
Waterford City Hall
A work stoppage may be imminent over the ongoing impasse between Waterford City and County Council and council workers at Dunmore Depot.
According to trade union Unite, two council workers were taken off their duties.
Earlier this month, a 24-hour stoppage was narrowly avoided after Waterford Council agreed to meet with Unite at Waterford City Hall.
However, the talks did not end in a resolution, nor was there a response from the council over the decision to remove two workers from their duties.
Unite stated at the time: "Unite had served notice of industrial action after exhausting all other avenues in an attempt to resolve a dispute surrounding the decision earlier this year by Waterford City and County Council to unilaterally impose changes to agreed work practices, involving an effective cut to pay, on union members involved in the maintenance of chlorine dosing and sanitary facilities.
"Unite is demanding that our members be reinstated to their established duties, in accordance with their longstanding terms and conditions of employment, and that they be reimbursed for financial losses incurred due to the Council’s unilateral actions."
Unite Officer Eoin Drummey spoke to the Waterford News & Star about the current situation: "We've asked them to reflect.
"They (Council) denied accountability. There's been a failure to abide by procedures; there have been no answers or atonement or accountability."
According to Mr Drummey, two workers were removed from their duties on maintain chlorine dosing without any reason being given by the Council.
The decision has hurt the men financially, as they lost their overtime pay and other benefits.
