Up to 500 ambulance personnel have begun strike action today (Tuesday) in a dispute over union recognition.
Department of Defence Army ambulances are on standby as part of the contingency plans to ensure patient services are not affected.
The strike – which began this morning at 7am and is due to end at 5pm – is being held by members of the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) ambulance branch NASRA, who want the HSE to recognise the trade union.
The HSE said that recognising yet another union would impair good industrial relations within the National Ambulance Service. Striking workers also want the HSE to deduct and remit their union subscription fee from their pay.
Most of the National Ambulance Service’s 1,800 staff belong to SIPTU, with members of this union expected to work as normal today.
The PNA is calling on Minister for Health Simon Harris to respond to the industrial action.
Sinead McGrath, PNA ambulance personnel branch Chairperson said: ‘Minister Harris must intervene in this dispute which is solely of the HSE’s making.
“Ambulance personnel made it clear eight years ago that they wanted to be members of the PNA and the ambulance branch of the PNA have successfully represented their interests since the branch was established.
“The Minister must instruct the HSE to engage with the industrial relations machinery to end this dispute and allow ambulance personnel the right to be members and represented by the trade union of their choice.”
