NI Water has confirmed that non-frontline NIPSA union members will begin industrial action relating to a dispute over pay arrangements, with a one-day strike on Wednesday 31 December and a work-to-rule starting Thursday 1 January.

NI Water’s Director of People & Learning, Rose Kelly, explained: 

“We want to reassure the public that we have robust contingency planning arrangements in place and are making every effort to minimise impact on NI Water’s operational services.

“Ministers Kimmins and O’Dowd have authorised pay awards in line with the wider public sector for 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 that have been accepted by our frontline unions Unite and GMB. 

“This dispute relates to NIPSA’s demand for recognition of multiple collective bargaining units for non‑frontline staff.

“NI Water has a pay offer ready and has encouraged NIPSA to submit a pay claim for all non-frontline employees to enable pay negotiations to commence without delay. We are committed to finding a way forward to ensure all our employees receive their pay settlement as quickly as possible.”

ENDS 

Notes to editors:

• This ballot does not include our frontline employees who have accepted the 24/25 & 25/26 pay award.
• We have robust contingency planning arrangements in place and will seek to minimise the impact of any industrial action taken.