Cork paramedics take to the picket line as more strikes planned

Hundreds of paramedics across Cork joined the picket line yesterday as part of a nationwide strike.

Some 2,000 members of Siptu and other trade unions began strike action across the country on Monday to urge the HSE to implement recommendations made in a 2020 independent review — the McHugh/Crabtree Report — which looked at changes to the roles of ambulance workers.

As a result of the report, which was jointly commissioned by the National Ambulance Service, Siptu, and the HSE in 2018, recommendations were made to enhance pay scales to reflect the growing professionalisation of the service.

However, according to union members, these recommendations are yet to be adopted.

Enhanced pay scales 

Speaking to The Echo, Cork city-based paramedic Colin O’Leary, who was among upwards of 50 members striking at the Kinsale Rd roundabout, said: “We haven’t been heard and there hasn’t been any change.”

“The recommendations from the report were that the ambulance service or the HSE should implement enhanced pay scales for the EMT, paramedic, and advanced paramedic clinical grades, but, unfortunately, the HSE hasn’t adopted or implemented those changes,” said Mr O’Leary.

“They did try to enter negotiations with us, where they wanted to implement further adjustments and changes in terms of changing the crewing model. This would, in effect, reduce the clinical level of cover that we would provide to the public. They also wanted to reduce our premium payments and overtime rates as a bargaining for that deal.

“However, our fight and our argument is that we are seeking recognition for the changes and modernisation that we have carried out over the last 15 years.

“We feel that there isn’t any appreciation for the changes we have agreed to undertake by professionalising the service, including a massive overhaul to the education standard, whereby you now have paramedics and advanced paramedics educated to degree and master’s level, but, unfortunately, the pay doesn’t recognise that.

“We are doing both work-to-rule and strike action — yesterday we began a work-to-rule, where we just worked to our contract and don’t provide any additional services, and then today we have a 24-hour work stoppage,” he added.

“We are, however, providing a contingency level of cover to the public. We do have ambulances out and crews available to respond to emergencies, but obviously at a reduced level.”

48-hour stoppage

Mr O’Leary said that the strike would continue until 8am today and would increase to a 48-hour stoppage next week, and then a 72-hour stoppage the following week.

“After that, the union will advise us on further stoppages if this can’t be resolved,” said Mr O’Leary.

“As staff, we call on the HSE to engage with our unions and to address the dispute. That’s what we want.

“We want to be recognised for the advancements we’ve made in pre-hospital care. We would much rather be out there providing a full level of cover, but this is what it’s come to.”