Ambulance staff to stage all-out strike in August

Staff in the national ambulance service who are represented by Siptu are to stage an all-out a strike from Wednesday, August 10th.

The union said an emergency service would be provided during the planned strike.

Siptu said the dispute was about the conditions of employment for members in the national ambulance service.

Siptu health division organiser, Paul Bell said: "This action is regrettable but our members feel they have no option. National ambulance service management has failed to adequately engage with our members on a number of issues. These include compensation due to them under the public service agreement, the implementation of a fully developed intermediate care service as recommended by the Labour Court and the application of an annualised hours system."

"We are calling on the Minister for Health to instruct the HSE and the national ambulance service management to engage with Siptu representatives in order to protect and develop a key public health service. Siptu representatives remain available for meaningful discussions on the issues in dispute."

The union served strike notice on Tuesday on foot of a recent ballot in which Siptu members in the national ambulance service voted by 92 per cent to 8 per cent in favour of industrial action, up to and including strike action.

Irish ambulance representative council chairman, Peter Ray, said: "The decision to implement an all out strike action clearly indicates our members' frustration at how they have been treated and the failure of senior management to listen to our concerns. In recent years, our members changed work practices and achieved significant cost savings so that the national ambulance service could develop within the financial constraints placed upon it by the wider economic recession. Our members have not received any recognition for the sacrifices they made."

Mr Ray said it was time for senior HSE management “ to deliver improved terms and conditions and a fully resourced service that is of a standard that the public deserves.”