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Water charges resistance growing

14/03/07

Trade Unionists in the Six Counties are considering upping the ante in the campaign to defeat the imposition of water charges.

Members of the Communication Workers’ Union are to vote on a proposal that could see postal staff refuse to deliver water charge bills to homes across the occupied area.

Water Charges are set to be introduced by the British government at the beginning of next month (April), despite the fact that householders in the Six Counties already pay for their water through local taxation.

A similar scheme imposed in England and Wales by the Thatcher government in the 1980S led to the privatisation of the water service there.

The CWU, which represents 1,800 postal workers, is to meet in the next week to discuss the non-delivery proposal. If workers vote in favour, the British government could be forced to bring in a private company to ensure delivery of the additional charges. Allied with a campaign of mass non-payment, non-delivery would seriously impede, if not totally scupper, the British plans.

Mal McGuigan, a branch secretary with CWU, said the non-delivery proposal came about as a result of grass-roots pressure. “A significant number of postal workers have contacted the union to voice their concern at the prospect of involvement in the delivery of water charges,” he said. “As a result of this the item is now on the agenda and will be put out for debate at our AGM.”

For more information on the anti-water charges campaign click on the link below www.waterchargesnonpayment.com.