Commenting on the publication today (Monday) of the Cunliffe report into the water industry, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:
“Ofwat has been asleep at the wheel for decades. A rising tide of filth in rivers and coastlines means people have completely lost trust in an essential industry.
“A safe, reliable sustainable water supply shouldn’t be too much to ask for.
“But instead of protecting consumers from higher bills and communities from sewage pollution, greed has been the prime motivation with obscene bonuses and shareholder dividends.
“The Cunliffe review hasn’t been able to consider the issue of renationalising a privatised water system that’s been broken for decades. It’s allowed water companies to profit from their failure to investment in a fundamental public service.
“Only wholesale changes will fix the system. Tinkering around the edges and failing to consider all options won’t deliver the change that is desperately needed.”
Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.
Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Fatima Ayad M: 07508 080383 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk
The article Fundamental change is needed to fix water, not tinkering around the edges first appeared on the UNISON National site.
Comments are closed.