Ambulance staff stage 24-hour strike in union recognition bid

MORE than 500 ambulance personnel will begin a 24-hour strike today over issues relating to union recognition.

The staff are affiliated with the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) and will strike from 2pm today.

This is the second 24-hour action by the union’s members but there have been a series of disruptions in recent months to highlight this issue.

The HSE refuses to engage with the association, stating that it will only deal with recognised trade unions.

In a statement issued yesterday, the HSE said: ‘The National Ambulance Service recognises Siptu, Unite and Forsa for staff in the service. In particular, Siptu is the recognised trade union for frontline staff. Recognition of other associations or unions would impair good industrial relations in the NAS. Recognising breakaway unions has a destabilising effect.’

PNA general secretary Peter Hughes said: ‘Despite growing support for our campaign from the public and across the political spectrum, the HSE has continued to ignore all calls for this issue to be resolved through the Workplace Relations Commission and by negotiation.

‘Meanwhile, ambulance personnel are being forced onto the picket lines again tomorrow to secure a basic workplace right that should be open to all workers who want to join, and be represented by, the union of their choice.’

PNA members will picket health facilities but will respond to emergencies.

The PNA would not provide a list of hospitals and services that will be affected.

In previous strike action by the PNA, ambulances from the Defence Forces were drafted in to assist the remaining NAS staff in call-out response.

The HSE did not say in their statement yesterday if this would happen again on this occasion.

In May, PNA ambulance personnel protested in front of the Dáil ahead of their first 24-hour strike.