Category: water industry

Feargal Sharkey brings star quality – and rage – to conference

Feargal Sharkey with UNISON delegates. Photo: Steve Forrest/Workers’ Photos

UNISON’s national delegate conference (NDC) enjoyed a spot of real star quality earlier this week, when a fringe meeting on the climate crisis saw a special guest in singer and clean water campaigner Feargal Sharkey.

“My father would be cock-a-hoop that I was standing on a union platform,” he told those attending.

His dad was a trade union official who took him to his first union meeting at age eight – “I was traumatised!”

But his mother was “the real political leader” in the Sharkey home. She insisted that dad piled them all in the car on 21 April 1969 to join the People’s Democracy Civil Rights March.

“Normal people can achieve the most remarkable things,” he said.

“The school teachers, the housewives, the electricians, the bricklayers and the poets.”

Climate change is going on right now, he says, and talks of the catastrophic levels of rainfall being experienced – “33mm of rain in just 10 minutes” in a dry part of Spain recently.

“Why am I here? I like standing around in rivers and have since I was 11.” It was when fly fishing that Feargal realised what was happening to his beloved rivers. He tried to get the Environment Agency to tackle the issue.

He explains that chalk streams are incredibly rare and support a special ecology, yet the River Ver in St Albans has had sewage pumped into it by Thames Water.

Last year alone, English companies spent 4.6m hours last year spewing sewage into rivers and seas, while the Environment Agency has had its budget slashed by 57%.

“Share my rage, share my outrage,” he urged them.

The meeting also heard from Tony Wright, the chair of UNISON’s policy development and campaigns committee, who opened by noting the news earlier in the day that, in parts of the US and on mainland Europe, there have been warnings about how extreme temperatures could cause serious problems in the coming days and weeks.

He said that he was so frustrated that reports such as this routinely don’t mention climate change.

Why, he asked, is this a trade union issue? “It’s the most existential threat we face, as trade unionists and human beings,” said Tony.

National officer Donna Rowe-Merriman told those present: “Climate change affects us all.” She explained that UNISON members include those who work in energy, transport, water and the environment.

A “concerted effort by all sectors of society” to disinvest from fossil fuels is vital, and actions have to be “bold and decisive”.

She notes that mining communities were “decimated” in the transition away from coal in the 1980s; it was “not a just transition” and “we will not allow that to happen again”.

Michelle Singleton, UNISON policy lead on the environment, told the meeting the union was intending to enable more members to become active on the issue.

The article Feargal Sharkey brings star quality – and rage – to conference first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Feargal Sharkey brings star quality – and rage – to conference

Feargal Sharkey with UNISON delegates. Photo: Steve Forrest/Workers’ Photos

UNISON’s national delegate conference (NDC) enjoyed a spot of real star quality earlier this week, when a fringe meeting on the climate crisis saw a special guest in singer and clean water campaigner Feargal Sharkey.

“My father would be cock-a-hoop that I was standing on a union platform,” he told those attending.

His dad was a trade union official who took him to his first union meeting at age eight – “I was traumatised!”

But his mother was “the real political leader” in the Sharkey home. She insisted that dad piled them all in the car on 21 April 1969 to join the People’s Democracy Civil Rights March.

“Normal people can achieve the most remarkable things,” he said.

“The school teachers, the housewives, the electricians, the bricklayers and the poets.”

Climate change is going on right now, he says, and talks of the catastrophic levels of rainfall being experienced – “33mm of rain in just 10 minutes” in a dry part of Spain recently.

“Why am I here? I like standing around in rivers and have since I was 11.” It was when fly fishing that Feargal realised what was happening to his beloved rivers. He tried to get the Environment Agency to tackle the issue.

He explains that chalk streams are incredibly rare and support a special ecology, yet the River Ver in St Albans has had sewage pumped into it by Thames Water.

Last year alone, English companies spent 4.6m hours last year spewing sewage into rivers and seas, while the Environment Agency has had its budget slashed by 57%.

“Share my rage, share my outrage,” he urged them.

The meeting also heard from Tony Wright, the chair of UNISON’s policy development and campaigns committee, who opened by noting the news earlier in the day that, in parts of the US and on mainland Europe, there have been warnings about how extreme temperatures could cause serious problems in the coming days and weeks.

He said that he was so frustrated that reports such as this routinely don’t mention climate change.

Why, he asked, is this a trade union issue? “It’s the most existential threat we face, as trade unionists and human beings,” said Tony.

National officer Donna Rowe-Merriman told those present: “Climate change affects us all.” She explained that UNISON members include those who work in energy, transport, water and the environment.

A “concerted effort by all sectors of society” to disinvest from fossil fuels is vital, and actions have to be “bold and decisive”.

She notes that mining communities were “decimated” in the transition away from coal in the 1980s; it was “not a just transition” and “we will not allow that to happen again”.

Michelle Singleton, UNISON policy lead on the environment, told the meeting the union was intending to enable more members to become active on the issue.

The article Feargal Sharkey brings star quality – and rage – to conference first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Opinion: The water industry is a national scandal

By UNISON’s head of environment, Donna Rowe-Merriman

The current ownership and operating model for the water industry in England is in the news almost every day – and almost always for the wrong reasons.

Privatisation of the water industry has failed. Disastrously. It was a Tory government gamble that has not paid off – unless you are a water company chief executive or shareholder.

Consumers have not seen better outcomes. In fact, we are seeing profits being extracted for shareholders and some water companies being laden with debt despite significant under-investment on infrastructure.

Companies have proven themselves inadequate – with their actions resulting in higher bills, lower standards and increasing harm to the natural environment and public health.

This model has resulted in the prioritising of profit ahead of investment, and the incurring of unsustainable levels of debt to support it, with negative consequences for the public and customers being the inevitable result.

Since privatisation, consumers have paid billions for services. Despite this, our environment is at breaking point and there is no real desire from this government to turn the tide and force companies to deliver much needed infrastructure investment.

It was recently revealed that 2023 saw a huge increase in sewage spills into waterways in England, from 301,091 spills in 2022 to 464,056 in 2023 – an increase of over 54% in a single year, making it the worst year for sewage spills on record.

Recent media reports have also confirmed that the nine water companies in England discharged sewage into rivers close to their own headquarters for more than 56,000 hours in 2023, further underscoring these failings.

This affects UK wildlife and millions of people that use rivers and coastlines for recreation, from anglers to surfers. Growing campaigns highlight not only broken pipes – but a fundamentally broken system.

In addition, the current major drinking water contamination incident in Devon, and the admission by bosses at South West Water of the inadequacy of the company’s response, have demonstrated how even confidence in the safety of drinking water in homes has been affected by the failings of water companies in England.

Yet instead of investment and improvements to infrastructure, companies in the water sector – which were debt-free at the time of privatisation – have since taken on over £60 billion of debt, while at the same time investors have withdrawn £85 billion in shareholder dividends and other payments.

Water company bosses have also reportedly received over £25m in bonuses and incentives since 2019, according to analysis.

The only solution to this crisis

At the same time, companies including Southern Water and Thames Water are reporting significant financial problems, with the owners of Thames Water insisting on significant increases to customer bills and a write-off of fines before it agrees to financially shore-up the company.

The result of this is failing water infrastructure, increasing sewage spillages, reduced public confidence in the safety drinking water, coupled with excessive shareholder rewards and an increasingly precarious financial situation for water companies themselves.

This demonstrates that the current model of ownership and operation is not fit for purpose, and UNISON’s longstanding position in calling for a renationalised water sector, which is publicly owned and properly publicly accountable instead of beholden to shareholders, is the solution to the shortcomings of the failed private model of ownership.

Water companies have been profiteering from privatisation for decades to the tune of tens of billions extracted for shareholders at the expense of customers and the environment.

These companies are leaving everyone with decades worth of problems for future generations – whether it is our environment, our wildlife, or our public health.

This is a national scandal of epic proportions on a public right for clean water from our taps and clean rivers and coastline for our communities.

The only real option is to bring these failing water companies back under public oversight, is publicly accountable and above all publicly owned.

The article Opinion: The water industry is a national scandal first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Opinion: The water industry is a national scandal

By UNISON’s head of environment, Donna Rowe-Merriman

The current ownership and operating model for the water industry in England is in the news almost every day – and almost always for the wrong reasons.

Privatisation of the water industry has failed. Disastrously. It was a Tory government gamble that has not paid off – unless you are a water company chief executive or shareholder.

Consumers have not seen better outcomes. In fact, we are seeing profits being extracted for shareholders and some water companies being laden with debt despite significant under-investment on infrastructure.

Companies have proven themselves inadequate – with their actions resulting in higher bills, lower standards and increasing harm to the natural environment and public health.

This model has resulted in the prioritising of profit ahead of investment, and the incurring of unsustainable levels of debt to support it, with negative consequences for the public and customers being the inevitable result.

Since privatisation, consumers have paid billions for services. Despite this, our environment is at breaking point and there is no real desire from this government to turn the tide and force companies to deliver much needed infrastructure investment.

It was recently revealed that 2023 saw a huge increase in sewage spills into waterways in England, from 301,091 spills in 2022 to 464,056 in 2023 – an increase of over 54% in a single year, making it the worst year for sewage spills on record.

Recent media reports have also confirmed that the nine water companies in England discharged sewage into rivers close to their own headquarters for more than 56,000 hours in 2023, further underscoring these failings.

This affects UK wildlife and millions of people that use rivers and coastlines for recreation, from anglers to surfers. Growing campaigns highlight not only broken pipes – but a fundamentally broken system.

In addition, the current major drinking water contamination incident in Devon, and the admission by bosses at South West Water of the inadequacy of the company’s response, have demonstrated how even confidence in the safety of drinking water in homes has been affected by the failings of water companies in England.

Yet instead of investment and improvements to infrastructure, companies in the water sector – which were debt-free at the time of privatisation – have since taken on over £60 billion of debt, while at the same time investors have withdrawn £85 billion in shareholder dividends and other payments.

Water company bosses have also reportedly received over £25m in bonuses and incentives since 2019, according to analysis.

The only solution to this crisis

At the same time, companies including Southern Water and Thames Water are reporting significant financial problems, with the owners of Thames Water insisting on significant increases to customer bills and a write-off of fines before it agrees to financially shore-up the company.

The result of this is failing water infrastructure, increasing sewage spillages, reduced public confidence in the safety drinking water, coupled with excessive shareholder rewards and an increasingly precarious financial situation for water companies themselves.

This demonstrates that the current model of ownership and operation is not fit for purpose, and UNISON’s longstanding position in calling for a renationalised water sector, which is publicly owned and properly publicly accountable instead of beholden to shareholders, is the solution to the shortcomings of the failed private model of ownership.

Water companies have been profiteering from privatisation for decades to the tune of tens of billions extracted for shareholders at the expense of customers and the environment.

These companies are leaving everyone with decades worth of problems for future generations – whether it is our environment, our wildlife, or our public health.

This is a national scandal of epic proportions on a public right for clean water from our taps and clean rivers and coastline for our communities.

The only real option is to bring these failing water companies back under public oversight, is publicly accountable and above all publicly owned.

The article Opinion: The water industry is a national scandal first appeared on the UNISON National site.

UNISON calls on water regulator to protect customers and nature

UNISON is calling on the UK water regulator Ofwat and the UK government to stop water companies from increasing bills.

The union says that instead, there should be a focus on legislation to make companies – not the public – pay to restore the waterways to good health and protect jobs in the industry.

The water industry has hit the headlines again this week because of Ofwat’s plans to consult on banning bonuses for the bosses of water companies that have been found to have harmed the environment.

But as well as failing the environment, companies are failing customers and workers as well, claims UNISON, with several companies proposing to increase bills to fund necessary repairs and investment in water infrastructure.

Last year saw water companies consistently hitting headlines for negative reasons, including financial mismanagement, illegal discharge of sewage into waterways and leaving customers without running water – much of which can be put down to a lack of investment in infrastructure.

Yet according to analysis by the Labour Party, water company bosses have received over £25m in bonuses and incentives since the last general election. The analysis found that nine water chief executives were paid £10m in bonuses, £14m in incentives and £603,580 in benefits since 2019.

In addition, in 2023, senior executives from five of the 11 water companies that deal with sewage took bonuses. During this time, the water industry saw below-inflation pay settlements, recruitment freezes, job losses and customers facing the prospect of an increase in water bills just as households are struggling from the cost-of-living scandal.

UNISON national secretary Donna Rowe-Merriman said: “It’s obvious that the water companies in England are regional monopolies – and this model is not working for consumers or the environment.

“For years, profits in the water industry have landed in shareholder and executive pockets, and now, when infrastructure investment can’t be ignored any longer, they want customers and workers to pay the price.

“Privatising the profits and nationalising the cost is not a sustainable way to run any industry. Public ownership of the water industry is desperately needed so that the profits of this national asset benefit UK citizens and not just a small group of shareholders.”

The article UNISON calls on water regulator to protect customers and nature first appeared on the UNISON National site.

UNISON calls on water regulator to protect customers and nature

UNISON is calling on the UK water regulator Ofwat and the UK government to stop water companies from increasing bills.

The union says that instead, there should be a focus on legislation to make companies – not the public – pay to restore the waterways to good health and protect jobs in the industry.

The water industry has hit the headlines again this week because of Ofwat’s plans to consult on banning bonuses for the bosses of water companies that have been found to have harmed the environment.

But as well as failing the environment, companies are failing customers and workers as well, claims UNISON, with several companies proposing to increase bills to fund necessary repairs and investment in water infrastructure.

Last year saw water companies consistently hitting headlines for negative reasons, including financial mismanagement, illegal discharge of sewage into waterways and leaving customers without running water – much of which can be put down to a lack of investment in infrastructure.

Yet according to analysis by the Labour Party, water company bosses have received over £25m in bonuses and incentives since the last general election. The analysis found that nine water chief executives were paid £10m in bonuses, £14m in incentives and £603,580 in benefits since 2019.

In addition, in 2023, senior executives from five of the 11 water companies that deal with sewage took bonuses. During this time, the water industry saw below-inflation pay settlements, recruitment freezes, job losses and customers facing the prospect of an increase in water bills just as households are struggling from the cost-of-living scandal.

UNISON national secretary Donna Rowe-Merriman said: “It’s obvious that the water companies in England are regional monopolies – and this model is not working for consumers or the environment.

“For years, profits in the water industry have landed in shareholder and executive pockets, and now, when infrastructure investment can’t be ignored any longer, they want customers and workers to pay the price.

“Privatising the profits and nationalising the cost is not a sustainable way to run any industry. Public ownership of the water industry is desperately needed so that the profits of this national asset benefit UK citizens and not just a small group of shareholders.”

The article UNISON calls on water regulator to protect customers and nature first appeared on the UNISON National site.

UNISON condemns water firms’ attempt to increase household bills

UNISON has condemned calls from private water companies in England and Wales to increase bills to customers in order to invest in infrastructure and has reiterated its call for the industry to be renationalised.

The water industry has faced widespread criticism in recent years over the high volume of raw sewage discharges and the environmental impact on the rivers and seas – after paying huge dividends to shareholders instead of investing.

Despite funding of £56bn announced last year by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to tackle storm overflows – and topped up to £60bn in September this year – water companies want to increase household bills.

The companies are seeking approval from the regulator, Ofwat, to increase domestic bills by £156 a year to raise £96bn to modernise ageing infrastructure.

Only last month, the industry was ordered to pay back £114m to customers through lower bills after failing to meet key targets.

However, should the plan to increase customers’ bills be approved, it would mean that annual bills increase from 2025 to 2030 – with the general public having to pay for a situation that has been caused by the companies themselves.

Natalie Mladenovich-Haigh, chair of UNISON’s water industry sector committee, said: “Under these proposals, the public will pay for decades of profit extraction.

“Billions have been passed to shareholders while our waterways and sewage system have been starved of investment by regional monopolies and a regulator refusing to act in the public interest.

“The water companies must be renationalised. This will deliver a service that provides value for taxpayers ensuring the water needs of UK citizens are met by the public sector.”

The article UNISON condemns water firms’ attempt to increase household bills first appeared on the UNISON National site.

UNISON condemns water firms’ attempt to increase household bills

UNISON has condemned calls from private water companies in England and Wales to increase bills to customers in order to invest in infrastructure and has reiterated its call for the industry to be renationalised.

The water industry has faced widespread criticism in recent years over the high volume of raw sewage discharges and the environmental impact on the rivers and seas – after paying huge dividends to shareholders instead of investing.

Despite funding of £56bn announced last year by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to tackle storm overflows – and topped up to £60bn in September this year – water companies want to increase household bills.

The companies are seeking approval from the regulator, Ofwat, to increase domestic bills by £156 a year to raise £96bn to modernise ageing infrastructure.

Only last month, the industry was ordered to pay back £114m to customers through lower bills after failing to meet key targets.

However, should the plan to increase customers’ bills be approved, it would mean that annual bills increase from 2025 to 2030 – with the general public having to pay for a situation that has been caused by the companies themselves.

Natalie Mladenovich-Haigh, chair of UNISON’s water industry sector committee, said: “Under these proposals, the public will pay for decades of profit extraction.

“Billions have been passed to shareholders while our waterways and sewage system have been starved of investment by regional monopolies and a regulator refusing to act in the public interest.

“The water companies must be renationalised. This will deliver a service that provides value for taxpayers ensuring the water needs of UK citizens are met by the public sector.”

The article UNISON condemns water firms’ attempt to increase household bills first appeared on the UNISON National site.

UNISON demands Thames Water answers

UNISON’s general secretary Christina McAnea has written to two major figures in the regulation of the water industry about the reported financial mismanagement of Thames Water.

The company, which supplies water to a quarter of the country’s population, has been making headlines over recent weeks after coming under intense scrutiny over its performance and about its financial performance, including reports that it is currently £14bn in debt and on the verge of financial collapse.

Writing to the head of Ofwat David Black, the union’s general secretary asked for clarity about how the situation with Thames Water was allowed to happen and what they are doing about the issue.

She highlighted: “The privatisation of the water companies has systematically failed to deliver for the public, and UNISON is concerned that Ofwat has contributed to the current situation where our water industry is on the verge of collapse whilst under your watch.”

In calling for an urgent meeting with Mr Black, Ms McAnea added: “Everyone relies on employees in the water industry to do critical work, including emergency responses, and any collapse will have a huge impact on employees and on the public.”

Earlier this week Ms McAnea also wrote to the secretary of state for Defra, Thérèse Coffey, requesting an urgent meeting to ensure that the department will learn the lessons from Thames Water and respond accordingly to similar issues across the water industry. This is due to reports that Thames water may not be the only water company facing significant financial difficulties.

She wrote: “It’s clear now, that water companies operate regional monopolies that do not serve the best interests of the communities they serve.

“Renationalisation needs to take place urgently to protect our water security and our communities, and UNISON members must be given a guarantee that they will have job security should the company be nationalised.”

Last week, it was also reported that the government is considering bringing Thames Water temporarily back into public ownership.

Commenting on those reports, UNISON’s national secretary for water, energy and transport, Donna Rowe-Merriman said: “The regulator has been asleep at the wheel. The owners of Thames Water have borrowed billions, yet downed every drop of profit, racked up gigantic debts and rewarded the poor performance of senior directors with huge salaries.

“Profits should have no place in public services. A short-term fix to bail out Thames Water won’t be enough. The government should restore the water companies to public ownership for the good of everyone.”

The article UNISON demands Thames Water answers first appeared on the UNISON National site.

UNISON demands Thames Water answers

UNISON’s general secretary Christina McAnea has written to two major figures in the regulation of the water industry about the reported financial mismanagement of Thames Water.

The company, which supplies water to a quarter of the country’s population, has been making headlines over recent weeks after coming under intense scrutiny over its performance and about its financial performance, including reports that it is currently £14bn in debt and on the verge of financial collapse.

Writing to the head of Ofwat David Black, the union’s general secretary asked for clarity about how the situation with Thames Water was allowed to happen and what they are doing about the issue.

She highlighted: “The privatisation of the water companies has systematically failed to deliver for the public, and UNISON is concerned that Ofwat has contributed to the current situation where our water industry is on the verge of collapse whilst under your watch.”

In calling for an urgent meeting with Mr Black, Ms McAnea added: “Everyone relies on employees in the water industry to do critical work, including emergency responses, and any collapse will have a huge impact on employees and on the public.”

Earlier this week Ms McAnea also wrote to the secretary of state for Defra, Thérèse Coffey, requesting an urgent meeting to ensure that the department will learn the lessons from Thames Water and respond accordingly to similar issues across the water industry. This is due to reports that Thames water may not be the only water company facing significant financial difficulties.

She wrote: “It’s clear now, that water companies operate regional monopolies that do not serve the best interests of the communities they serve.

“Renationalisation needs to take place urgently to protect our water security and our communities, and UNISON members must be given a guarantee that they will have job security should the company be nationalised.”

Last week, it was also reported that the government is considering bringing Thames Water temporarily back into public ownership.

Commenting on those reports, UNISON’s national secretary for water, energy and transport, Donna Rowe-Merriman said: “The regulator has been asleep at the wheel. The owners of Thames Water have borrowed billions, yet downed every drop of profit, racked up gigantic debts and rewarded the poor performance of senior directors with huge salaries.

“Profits should have no place in public services. A short-term fix to bail out Thames Water won’t be enough. The government should restore the water companies to public ownership for the good of everyone.”

The article UNISON demands Thames Water answers first appeared on the UNISON National site.