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NI Water dispute: Danny Kennedy joins Labour Relations Agency talks NI Water dispute closes primary schools
(about 5 hours later)
The regional development minister is joining talks at the Labour Relations Agency aimed at resolving an industrial dispute at Northern Ireland Water. More than 1,000 primary school pupils spent the day at home, as the NI Water industrial action continues to disrupt supplies.
About 7,750 properties in parts of counties Tyrone, Fermanagh and Londonderry are still without a supply as water staff work to rule. Nine schools had to close, while 7,750 properties in counties Londonderry, Fermanagh and Tyrone are still cut off.
The minister, Danny Kennedy, said he was "not prepared to tolerate this situation one moment longer". Out-of-hours repairs are not being done due to a row over pension changes.
He said he wanted to "concentrate minds" at the talks. Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy said talks between unions and management must continue until "this is thrashed out and resolved".
"I'm determined that the key issues here are dealt with speedily and without any further delay," he said. He was speaking in the Northern Ireland Assembly after earlier taking part in talks at the Labour Relations Agency in an attempt to resolve the dispute.
"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."
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.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. Last month, Nipsa, Unite and GMB members voted for a work-to-rule and withdrawal of on-call services and overtime.
Further disruption However, an agreement was reached just before Christmas between NI Water and trade unions which meant people would not be without water supply for more than 24 hours.
Out-of-hours repairs are not being done because of the row, which is over changes to NI Water workers' pensions. Mr Kennedy said if there was no resolution of the dispute, the emergency protocol that was in place over Christmas must be re-instated.
On Monday night, 9,000 customers were without water in west Tyrone and parts of counties Londonderry and Fermanagh. "This would give the public protection of services and parties time and space to conclude on outstanding issues," he said.
On Tuesday, the number fell to 7,750 but NI Water said it expected further supply disruption throughout the day. Stormont's regional development committee has called an emergency meeting for Wednesday morning.
The company said it has received 273 calls since midnight from customers who have have lost their water supply. The disruption in Tyrone and Fermanagh has been caused by problems at Lough Bradan water treatment works.
"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."
Proposal
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.
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 says it 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 hereRead 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. Speaking ahead of the latest round of negotiations on Tuesday, NI Water chief executive Sarah Venning said she understood the anger of customers who had their supplies interrupted.
NI Water chief executive Sarah Venning has described the industrial action as "not responsible" and said customers had every right to be "fed up". "We're here today, absolutely determined to find a resolution to this dispute," she said.
But Ryan McKinney from the union, Nipsa, said the workers had to take action to "protect their long-term future". "We're willing to listen to any reasonable offer, but we've been given a very clear remit to find a resolution within executive pay policy."
Nipsa, Unite and GMB members voted last month for a work-to-rule and withdrawal of on-call services and over-time. Ryan McKinney of the union, Nipsa, said they were prepared to stay as "long as it takes", adding that workers had "every right to defend their pensions".
NI Water said it would try to minimise disruption, but resources were limited. "We're not going to be pushed into a settlement that doesn't benefit our members," he said.
"They fear that they are going to lose out in the long term. Pensions is a long-term commitment and we have to reach the right settlement for those people."
On Monday night, 9,000 customers were without water in west Tyrone and parts of counties Derry and Fermanagh.
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.