Northern Irish ambulance workers have voted overwhelmingly to take industrial action over proposed changes to their shifts which they say will reduce cover in a number of areas.
Unite the Union has said that 86% of its Northern Ireland Ambulance Service members have voted to take industrial action and said they are willing to go on strike over the new shift system that is being introduced.
The new shifts were to be piloted in the South Eastern health and social care area for a year, with ambulance workers fearing it would see a significant reduction in ambulance cover at nighttime. They said that while the shifts are being trialled in one trust area, they would have an impact across Northern Ireland.
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The union said existing NIAS cover arrangements see ambulances travel from across Northern Ireland to cover shortfalls. The new shifts will increase the likelihood for such long journeys which then has a knock-on impact leaving other areas, especially rural ones, with insufficient cover.
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary said: “These new shifts are just a bandage to cover over the ambulance service staffing crisis. Ambulance workers will not pay the price for a crisis they didn’t cause.”
Unite has expressed concern to management that not only do the proposed new shifts risk leaving areas without cover, but they are not family friendly. It says initial commitments by NIAS management to respect the wishes of paramedics and ambulance workers who have caring responsibilities and did not want to transfer on to the new shifts have since been dropped leaving ambulance workers contemplating industrial action.
Unite regional officer for ambulance staff Norman Cunningham said, “The shift plans risk leaving areas without any cover. Our members are reporting instances when ambulances are having to travel from Coleraine to Bangor – and this will become even more commonplace. It’s just not safe. Instead of seeking to cut-corners on ambulance cover, NIAS needs to actively recruit to end the staffing crisis.
“Unite’s consultative ballot for industrial action was overwhelming. NIAS management must recognise the strength of feeling and listen to its employees.”
Unite the union represents more than 400 paramedics and ambulance workers employed by the NI Ambulance Service.
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