Union to ballot Ofwat staff on strike action over stalled reform

(by Karma Loveday)

A strike ballot will open today, running until 19 October, for Ofwat staff who are members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) trade union.

This is an escalation of a dispute that has arisen because of lack of clarity for Ofwat workers since the Cunliffe Commission recommended, and Government accepted, that the regulator should be abolished, as a key plank of the water reform agenda.

PCS called for:

• Retention of civil service status and rights.

• No redundancies or compulsory relocations.

• Protection for pay, terms and conditions, and wider working conditions.

• Assurance that the water industry will be properly governed and not saddled with “another weak regulator that is unable to effectively challenge the private interests dominating the water sector”.

PCS said the action could be averted if Defra provides “reasonable assurances” on members’ concerns in the coming days. General secretary Fran Heathcote commented: “Ofwat and Defra have exhausted our members’ patience but hardened their determination. We should not be having to ballot for industrial action to put pressure on Labour ministers to do the right thing by workers.

“One paragraph is all it would take to stop this escalation. If that is not forthcoming, then we will be balloting to put all options on the table to ensure we can effectively protect our members’ interests.”