Union Seeks Talks Over Water Jobs
Posted: Wednesday 9th May 2007
Union officials have said they want to begin negotiations to discuss job cuts in Northern Ireland's water industry.
Up to 500 jobs are to go over the next three years as part of a cost-cutting programme.
The current workforce of about 1,900 will be cut to 1,400 as part of a new strategic business plan.
The job cuts will hit the firm's industrial division as well as engineering, administration and scientific divisions.
Northern Ireland water was set up on 1 April 2007 as a government-owned company.
It has a turnover of £400m and is investing £1m every working day to update water and sewerage infrastructure which has suffered from chronic under-investment.
The government had intended that consumers would contribute to the company's income this year with the introduction of domestic water charges, but they have been put on hold.
The new assembly is now to look at the issue of water charges.
Chancellor Gordon Brown is under pressure to provide the funds to allow the executive to defer charges for the first year at least.
The job losses will prove controversial as the water company is still trying to improve its performance in cutting leaks.
