Ambulance personnel are engaging in strike action across Donegal today (Tuesday) in a dispute over the HSE’s refusal to recognise the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) as a union.
Members of NASRA, the ambulance branch of PNA, have been on the picket line at Letterkenny University Hospital from 7am this morning. A strike is also taking place in Dungloe.
Speaking from LUH, NASRA member Cathal McGlynn said: “We are standing for our rights to join NASRA. Ambulance staff are represented by two unions, SIPTU and NASRA. But members of NASRA are being refused recognition.”
NASRA member and local election candidate Cathal McGlynn
There are eight workers currently on the Letterkenny picket line with others expected to come and go throughout the day. Contingency plans are in place so patient care is not compromised.
Mr McGlynn, who will be running as an Independent candidate in local elections in Letterkenny, said striking staff have been getting a positive response from the public today.
“We are getting an excellent response. There are cars beeping all morning. It’s clear the public is are behind us and they recognise the work that we do,” Mr McGlynn said.
NASRA members on the picket line at Letterkenny University Hospital, 22nd January 2019
The HSE has said it recognised Siptu, Unite and Forsa as trade unions and to recognise others would ‘undermine the positive engagement with Siptu, would impair good industrial relations in the National Ambulance Service’.
Mr McGlynn’s message for Minister for Health Simon Harris is: “It’s time the Minister put pressure on the HSE to recognise NASRA and put pressure on them to recognise our union, which is a basic right of workers to be represented by a union of their choice.”
