Waterford council staff picket for 'a living wage' in the city this morning
Waterford council staff joined together outside the Waterford Crystal building this morning as part of the country's largest strike action in almost 20 years. Photo: Erin Gahan
All Waterford City and County Council buildings, including libraries, facilities and amenity sites, will be closed to the public today, Wednesday, October 14, as the national public sector pay strike takes place.
Pickets are being held across a number of council buildings and sites countywide today, with workers from different sectors and unions banding together for "a living wage".
Nigel Dalton, Chair of the SIPTU committee for Waterford City and County Council, spoke to the Waterford News & Star outside the Waterford Crystal building in the city centre, where pickets are taking place today.
"The strike today is unfortunate," he said, adding that, "Hopefully this will send a message to the government that we are serious, and if they don't want to engage with us in a meaningful fashion, that we will go ahead with our strike next week, and after that it could be escalated further."
As part of the largest national strike action in over 20 years, public sector workers across the country are picketing outside of workplaces in almost all public services, with workers from different sectors coming together at many of the larger public buildings.
For Waterford City and County Council, this means workers from the council itself, from the library services, dog pounds, golf courses, machinery yards and much more, Mr Dalton said, "all the way from Waterford City bridge to Youghal bridge".
Public sector workers not associated with the local authorities, like HSE staff, primary, secondary and third-level teaching staff, courts and probation services and all other public services are also picketing today across Waterford and the rest of the country.
"We're dealing here with some of the lowest paid public servants, the outdoor staff and some of the clerical officers within, and they are at the pin of their collar. I know because I am one," Mr. Dalton said, "And I have to say that the way inflation has gone, our wages are worth so much less these days."
Waterford City and County Council have contingency arrangements in place to support the continued delivery of essential services as the strike continues today, it said in a statement to this newspaper.
However, delays and changes to normal service arrangements should be expected throughout the day.
Fire services and emergency homeless services will not be affected by today's strike action, Waterford City and County Council confirmed, with Mr. Dalton adding that any emergency situations today will be prioritised and dealt with by council staff, and people can and should contact the council if any unfortunate situations arise.
Members of the public can continue to contact Waterford City and County Council by calling 0818 10 20 20, although all calls will be redirected to the council’s out-of-hours/emergency services numbers.
