ambulance staff to strike in union row
paramedics ‘no option’ but to walk out for day
PARAMEDICS nationwide are to hold a one-day strike next month in a row over the choice of union representation.
The National Ambulance Service Representative said its ambulance personnel members are being left with no other choice.
The 500 staff will walk out from 7am until 5pm on December 19.
It is the third phase of industrial action which started last month in protest at the continued refusal by the HSE to engage in negotiations with the Psychiatric Nurses Association when representing its branch.
The PNA also claims the Executive is failing to make payroll deductions of union subscriptions.
General secretary Peter Hughes said: “Ambulance personnel who are merely seeking a fundamental right to be members of the union of their choice now have no option but to move to strike action in pursuit of that right.
“It’s an indication of the strength of feeling among ambulance personnel that they are now embarking on strike action to secure union membership and negotiating rights which are already enjoyed by every other worker within the HSE.”
A High Court injunction threatened by the health service earlier this year against the crews who are part of the union has already forced them to halt their plans to strike.
In a statement the HSE said: “We are satisfied ambulance personnel are already adequately represented through agreed industrial processes that exist in the health sector. NAS has an ongoing engagement with Siptu, which is the recognised trade union for frontline NAS staff.”
National chairperson of the PNA’S ambulance personnel branch Sinead Mcgrath said: “The HSE in refusing to allow ambulance personnel to be represented by the PNA, should be aware it is jeopardising the operation of the ambulance service which relies heavily on our members to undertake additional shifts.
“I’m again calling on Health Minister Simon Harris and politicians generally, to demand the HSE step back from this dispute and move as a matter of urgency to address the issues at
its core.”
We want Mr Harris to demand HSE step back from this dispute
SINEAD mcgrath
YESTERDAY