Workers at Northern Ireland Water and NI Water Alpha have ended their industrial dispute after accepting a pay offer that includes a 5% increase and a one-off payment of £ 1,500 (€ 1,807). The deal, covering the 2023-2024 fiscal year, aligns with pay awarded to other civil service workers. Trade unions Unite and GMB warned that the agreement highlights deeper issues within NI Water. Despite the pay increase, many frontline workers remain on wages barely above the national minimum, including skilled trades and craft workers. This has led to recruitment and retention challenges, putting the maintenance of critical water infrastructure at risk. Union representatives stressed that the pay deal was won through the strength of collective action and strike preparedness.
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