Ambulance service members in Louth on 24-hour strike in a dispute over pay
Pickets are taking place at ambulance bases around the country, including Louth County Hospital in Dundalk, as part of the action by crews who are members of Siptu and Unite.
Paramedics in Louth are taking part in the national 24-hour strike today in a dispute over pay.
Pickets are taking place at ambulance bases around the country, including Louth County Hospital in Dundalk, as part of the action by crews who are members of Siptu and Unite.
The Health Service Executive has warned of potential delays as workers for the National Ambulance Services, including emergency medical technicians, paramedics, advanced paramedics, paramedic specialists and paramedic supervisors, will strike until 8am tomorrow, Wednesday.
Last month, Unite and Siptu members voted in favour of industrial action over 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% increase recommended under the benchmarking II process has not been delivered.
The strike involves pickets at ambulance depots which began at 8am this morning, including at the Louth County Hospital in Dundalk.
Unions have agreed contingency plans with the HSE to ensure that patient safety is prioritised during the dispute.
Siptu ambulance sector organiser John McCamley said union members “have been left with no option but to issue a strike notice due to this long-running dispute”.
He said: “We call on the HSE to implement the recommendations of the independent report without preconditions and to introduce enhanced pay scales which properly recognise the training and professional level at which our members now carry out their duties daily.”
Unite regional officer Eoin Drummey said the HSE “can resolve this dispute by agreeing to implement the 2020 review immediately and without preconditions”.
On its website, the HSE 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,” it said.