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SIPTU members holding the protest outside the Dáil this lunchtime
# Europe
SIPTU members to protest against EU water privatisation
The members, which include local authority workers, are to protest outside the Dáil today.
A RALLY WILL take place outside the Dáil today by SIPTU members opposed to the privatisation of water resources in Europe.
SIPTU members said that they will rally outside the Dáil at 10.30am to protest against EU policies which promote the privatisation of water resources.
Campaign
The rally is part of an EU-wide campaign by the European Federation of Public Service Unions. SIPTU says this campaign is “focused on highlighting its concern at the liberalisation of EU laws governing the ownership of water resources”.
SIPTU Local Authority Chairperson, Matt Henry, said they are concerned due to the decision of the Irish Government to establish Irish Water “and transfer water assets out of local democratic ownership”.
The concern in relation to who owns and controls water is the same across Europe and internationally.
The SIPTU National Water Services Committee, which is organising the rally, represents over 3000 workers in Local Authorities employed in water services. Following the rally, SIPTU members will meet with political parties and groups to outline their concerns.
SIPTU is also supporting a campaign to raise one million signatures as part of a European citizens initiative to bring pressure on the EU Commission to reverse its intention to conclude a concessions directive which it says “would have the effect of promoting the privatisation of water services across Europe”.
Read: Civil servants’ trade union urges members to ‘vote no’ to Croke Park II>
