SIPTU representatives are set to meet with HSE management and Department of Health officials, tomorrow, Thursday in a final bid to avert strike action in the National Ambulance Service (NAS) from Wednesday, 10th August.
SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell said: “This dispute is centred on 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.
“Our members have brought solutions to the table from day one. They demand meaningful engagement from their employer and concrete proposals to resolve this dispute once and for all.”
He added: “The Department of Health has allowed the ambulance service to drift into the situation where our members will withdraw their labour, apart from emergency cover from Wednesday 10th August. The fact that the Minister for Health, Simon Harris, has remained indifferent throughout this dispute is totally unacceptable.
“SIPTU Ambulance Professionals would much rather be serving citizens and their communities than be forced into taking industrial action. However, they have no other option in order to ensure the issues in dispute are resolved in the public interest.”
