NI Water chief exec apologises to customers

The chief executive of Northern Ireland Water (NI Water) has apologised to customers for the disruption suffered during four weeks of industrial action.

In an open letter, NI water chief executive Sara Venning apologised for the severe disruption that saw 10,000 properties without water supply over Christmas and during most of January as trade unions opposed planned changes to pensions.

Venning said NI Water had gone through a “turbulent time, working through issues of pensions and reform with the unions”, and added: “I am sorry these issues impacted on our customers”.

She wrote: “As we emerge from this period, I want to give customers a commitment the management and staff are united in a common aim; that of ensuring the services we provide to the public will remain at the high standard they have come to expect over recent years.”

Venning added that “there is little doubt the trust our customers have placed in us as a provider of water and wastewater services has been shaken” and she promised NI water will “continue to move forward with reform and will return to our daily business of running an efficient, quality focussed company”.

The disruption to the mains water supply was as a result of more than 1,000 members of staff who withdrew from working any overtime and refused to provide on-call services.

The dispute is over plans by NI Water to scrap the current pension scheme which the GMB claims will see staff needing to “work for more years for less” and cost them up to £100 per month.

The industrial action was suspended by the Water Group of Trade Unions – GMB, Unite, and NIPSA – on 21 January as its members consider a new pension offer. The unions are still considering the offer.