National Ambulance Service workers to strike over pay

Sarah Slater

SIPTU and Unite ambulance members are set to escalate strike action next month in a long dispute over pay.

National Ambulance Service (NAS) workers are to take part in a 24-hour work stoppage on Tuesday, May 12th, followed by a 48-hour stoppage from May 19th and a 72-hour stoppage from May 26th.

Almost 2,000 SIPTU members in the NAS voted overwhelmingly last week for strike action relating to a dispute over updated salary scales within the service.

The union has accused the Health Service Executive (HSE) of failing to implement the recommendations of an independent report on updating staff salary scales to reflect changes in their responsibilities and workload.

The dispute involves members working as emergency medical technicians (EMTs), paramedics, advanced paramedics, specialist paramedics and paramedic supervisors.

Members of the Unite trade union in the NAS also voted overwhelmingly for strike action last week as part of the same dispute.

SIPTU has warned of further strike action in June.

A work-to-rule will also be put in place from May 11th, involving non-cooperation with new procedures or changes.

The HSE previously met with SIPTU and Unite in February and confirmed it was committed to entering further discussion on Workplace Relations Commission proposals.

In a statement, the HSE said that the proposals were “rejected by SIPTU and Unite, who immediately advised of their intention to ballot for industrial action”.