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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| NI Water dispute: Danny Kennedy joins Labour Relations Agency talks | NI Water dispute: Danny Kennedy joins Labour Relations Agency talks |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The regional development minister is joining talks at the Labour Relations Agency aimed at resolving an industrial dispute at Northern Ireland Water. | |
| About 7,750 properties in parts of counties Tyrone, Fermanagh and Londonderry are still without a supply as water staff work to rule. | About 7,750 properties in parts of counties Tyrone, Fermanagh and Londonderry are still without a supply as water staff work to rule. |
| The minister, Danny Kennedy, said he was "not prepared to tolerate this situation one moment longer". | The minister, Danny Kennedy, said he was "not prepared to tolerate this situation one moment longer". |
| He said he wanted to "concentrate minds" at the talks. | He said he wanted to "concentrate minds" at the talks. |
| "I'm determined that the key issues here are dealt with speedily and without any further delay," he said. | "I'm determined that the key issues here are dealt with speedily and without any further delay," he said. |
| "I'm on my way to the Labour Relations Agency in order to help concentrate minds, to make sure that everybody, all sides, are aware of the importance of sorting this out resolving this once and for all within the parameters of executive policy. | "I'm on my way to the Labour Relations Agency in order to help concentrate minds, to make sure that everybody, all sides, are aware of the importance of sorting this out resolving this once and for all within the parameters of executive policy. |
| "It needs to be done, it needs to be sorted. I am not prepared to tolerate this situation one moment longer." | "It needs to be done, it needs to be sorted. I am not prepared to tolerate this situation one moment longer." |
| Both NI Water and union leaders said they would be willing to continue the talks late into the night to try and find a solution. | |
| Mr Kennedy is to answer an urgent oral question on the dispute in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 15:30 GMT, while the regional development committee has called an emergency meeting on Wednesday morning. | Mr Kennedy is to answer an urgent oral question on the dispute in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 15:30 GMT, while the regional development committee has called an emergency meeting on Wednesday morning. |
| Further disruption | Further disruption |
| Out-of-hours repairs are not being done because of the row, which is over changes to NI Water workers' pensions. | Out-of-hours repairs are not being done because of the row, which is over changes to NI Water workers' pensions. |
| On Monday night, 9,000 customers were without water in west Tyrone and parts of counties Londonderry and Fermanagh. | On Monday night, 9,000 customers were without water in west Tyrone and parts of counties Londonderry and Fermanagh. |
| On Tuesday, the number fell to 7,750 but NI Water said it expected further supply disruption throughout the day. | On Tuesday, the number fell to 7,750 but NI Water said it expected further supply disruption throughout the day. |
| The company said it has received 273 calls since midnight from customers who have have lost their water supply. | The company said it has received 273 calls since midnight from customers who have have lost their water supply. |
| "NI Water regrets that 7,750 properties still remain without a water supply and anticipate that further properties may also suffer a disruption to their supply throughout the day, due to problems at Lough Bradan Water Treatment Works, resulting in continued disruption to water supplies in west Tyrone," a spokesman said. | "NI Water regrets that 7,750 properties still remain without a water supply and anticipate that further properties may also suffer a disruption to their supply throughout the day, due to problems at Lough Bradan Water Treatment Works, resulting in continued disruption to water supplies in west Tyrone," a spokesman said. |
| "Areas that may again be affected include: Castlederg, Drumquin, Kesh, Killen, Lack, Dromore, Ederney, Irvinestown, Lisnarick, Clonelly, Drumskinny." | "Areas that may again be affected include: Castlederg, Drumquin, Kesh, Killen, Lack, Dromore, Ederney, Irvinestown, Lisnarick, Clonelly, Drumskinny." |
| Proposal | Proposal |
| Monday's talks ended with NI Water seeking clarification about a union counterproposal to its latest offer. | Monday's talks ended with NI Water seeking clarification about a union counterproposal to its latest offer. |
| The company and its employees' union representatives had been holding talks on a third pension proposal made by NI Water. | The company and its employees' union representatives had been holding talks on a third pension proposal made by NI Water. |
| Analysis: Why the west? | Analysis: Why the west? |
| NI Water says the problems are concentrated in the west of Northern Ireland because the infrastructure and equipment there is mainly older. | NI Water says the problems are concentrated in the west of Northern Ireland because the infrastructure and equipment there is mainly older. |
| Sites in the east have been more recently refurbished. | Sites in the east have been more recently refurbished. |
| NI Water is not principally down to the 'Project Alpha factor'. | NI Water is not principally down to the 'Project Alpha factor'. |
| Project Alpha is a 25-year Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract to upgrade and operate four water treatment works. | Project Alpha is a 25-year Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract to upgrade and operate four water treatment works. |
| Read more from BBC NI's John Campbell here | Read more from BBC NI's John Campbell here |
| The unions have said that they believe the latest offer does not address the core issues raised in the dispute. | The unions have said that they believe the latest offer does not address the core issues raised in the dispute. |
| NI Water chief executive Sarah Venning has described the industrial action as "not responsible" and said customers had every right to be "fed up". | NI Water chief executive Sarah Venning has described the industrial action as "not responsible" and said customers had every right to be "fed up". |
| But Ryan McKinney from the union, Nipsa, said the workers had to take action to "protect their long-term future". | But Ryan McKinney from the union, Nipsa, said the workers had to take action to "protect their long-term future". |
| Nipsa, Unite and GMB members voted last month for a work-to-rule and withdrawal of on-call services and over-time. | Nipsa, Unite and GMB members voted last month for a work-to-rule and withdrawal of on-call services and over-time. |
| NI Water said it would try to minimise disruption, but resources were limited. | NI Water said it would try to minimise disruption, but resources were limited. |
| The company has a postcode search on its website for customers to check for the latest information on supply disruption in their areas. | The company has a postcode search on its website for customers to check for the latest information on supply disruption in their areas. |