Talks ongoing to avoid all-out strike in ambulance service

Last-ditch talks to avert next week’s planned all-out strike at the National Ambulance Service are due to take place between Siptu officials and HSE management on Thursday.

The talks are a final attempt to reach a deal in the dispute, which Siptu says is about conditions of employment. The union says an emergency service will be provided during the planned strike.

Siptu health division organiser Paul Bell said the dispute arose from the failure of management to implement binding Labour Court recommendations, honour national public service pay agreements and resource the ambulance service “to a world-class level”.

The HSE said the National Ambulance Service met Siptu officials last week and would continue to have meaningful dialogue and discussions “as per normal industrial relations procedures”.

The union served strike notice last month on foot of a recent ballot, in which members in the National Ambulance Service voted 92 per cent to 8 per cent in favour of industrial action, up to and including strike action.