Ambulance workers begin 24-hour strike

By Claudia Savage, Press Association

Paramedics have begun a 24-hour strike, as the HSE have warned of potential delays.

Workers for the National Ambulance Services, including emergency medical technicians, paramedics, advanced paramedics, paramedic specialists and paramedic supervisors, will strike from 8am on Tuesday until 8am on Wednesday.

Last month, Unite and Siptu members voted in favour of industrial action due to what they refer to as management’s ongoing failure to implement the 2020 Roles and Responsibilities Review.

The unions say qualifications, clinical responsibilities and operational duties of ambulance personnel have expanded significantly in recent years.

They also say a 5 per cent increase recommended under the benchmarking II process has not been delivered.

Unions have agreed contingency plans with the HSE to ensure that patient safety is prioritised during the dispute.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said paramedics have been left “with no option but to take action to secure long-overdue recognition and pay commensurate with their skills and expertise”.

“They have Unite’s full support in this fight,” she said.

Unite regional officer Eoin Drummey said the HSE “can resolve this dispute by agreeing to implement the 2020 review immediately and without preconditions”.

“Our members would prefer to be on the front line saving lives, but they have been forced on to the picket line to demand that the vital work they do serving communities across Ireland is finally recognised,” he said.

On their website, the HSE have warned there “will be delays responding to non-life-threatening calls for ambulances” on Tuesday into Wednesday.

“During this time, consider if another healthcare option might be suitable,” they have said.