SIPTU representatives have described a Labour Court recommendation of pay rises for ambulance workers as “a major breakthrough” in a long-running dispute over the failure of the National Ambulance Service (NAS) to implement the McHugh/Crabtree report.
The recommendation includes pay increases for Emergency Medical Technicians, Paramedics, Specialist Paramedics, and Paramedic Supervisors. It also protects the majority of the existing terms and conditions of ambulance personnel.
SIPTU represents around 90% of the NAS personnel affected by the ongoing dispute. It follows the HSE’s failure to implement the recommendations of the independent McHugh/Crabtree report on updating ambulance personnel’s pay scales to reflect changes in their responsibilities and workloads over the last 20 years.
SIPTU spent four days in the Labour Court arguing the Union’s case for recognition of changes and upskilling involving the NAS operational grades, which were the subject of the recommendations of the McHugh/Crabtree report.
“This recommendation represents the culmination of a long process which now recognises the upskilling, changes and workload undertaken by union members over the last 15 to 20 years,” Ambulance Sector Organiser John McCamley said.
“It is a vindication of our members’ determination to seek pay justice and respect from the HSE.”