Commenting on the move by South East Water to pay out £2.3m in dividends to investors despite huge losses, UNISON head of environment Donna Rowe-Merriman said:
“Failing and polluting water companies are jeopardising water quality, killing wildlife and causing untold damage to the environment.
“It beggars belief these firms are prioritising shareholder payouts over investment in services to their customers.
“The regulator must step in to force them to focus on providing safe water supplies and maintaining cleaner rivers, not generating vast profits.”
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:
Fatima Ayad M: 07508 080383 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk