SIPTU members will start industrial action at the National Ambulance Service control centre, in Tallaght, Dublin 24, on Monday (20th June), following the failure of senior HSE management to intervene in a long-running dispute at the facility. SIPTU Organiser, John McCamley said: “It is regrettable that our members find themselves with no option but to implement a work-to-rule industrial action. This action was originally scheduled for earlier in the month but was delayed in order to allow time for serious negotiations. However, due to the failure of senior HSE management to properly engage with SIPTU representatives these negotiations failed to materialise. “This dispute is due to the failure of HSE management to honour a number of agreements arrived at following negotiations at the Workplace Relations Commission regarding staffing levels, the filling of permanent vacancies, payment of correct pay rates and retention of emergency call takers.” He added: “Our members in the National Ambulance Service control centre provide a vital service in sometimes stressful conditions. However, these highly skilled emergency call takers have a starting annual wage of just above €21,000. If the service is to be maintained at the standard necessary, there must be movement by management to implement the agreements that it has entered into. "SIPTU is calling on management to address our members concerns and deal with the staffing and retention issues at the control centre as a matter of urgency.”
SIPTU condemns HSE for failing to intervene in national ambulance control centre dispute
