Northumbrian Water workers to take industrial action

Northumbrian Water supplies 2.7 million people across the North East

Water workers in the north-east of England are to take industrial action in a row over pensions.

Following a ballot, the GMB and Unite unions have told Northumbrian Water that action short of a strike will run indefinitely from Tuesday.

They accuse the company of cutting workers' pensions, but increasing dividends for shareholders.

Northumbrian Water said its employees had one of the best pension schemes in the water industry.

The company, which was taken over by a Hong Kong-based investment consortium in 2011, supplies 2.7 million people across the North East.

'Contingency plans'

Maxine Bartholomew, GMB Regional Organiser, said: "According to the company's last financial statement, Northumbrian Water had a £384m operating profit.

"They call themselves an ethical company, but they choose to increase the shareholders' dividend, while proposing pension cuts to the workers who make them these massive profits."

Richard Warneford from Northumbrian Water said: ''Almost all water companies have already made changes to their defined benefits pension schemes.

"We are in the minority of companies being able to keep a defined benefits scheme open and we are providing our employees with one of the best schemes in the water industry."

He added: "Our priority will be to safeguard our service to customers and protect the environment and we have contingency plans in place."