Laois members of the Unite trade union within the National Ambulance Service (NAS) are set to go on strike this May.

The strikes are organised by trade unions SIPTU and Unite, and aim to protest against the lack of action taken by the ambulance service to improve job conditions for workers.

Currently there is only one ambulance unit in Laois, located in Portlaoise. There are thirteen units across the Midlands in total.

Over the past several months, the Portlaoise ambulance unit has been raised by local TD's, stating that Laois is being left without ambulance cover because of ‘dynamic deployment’.

Speaking with the Leinster Express / Laois Live, SIPTU organiser Graham Macken highlighted the issues Laois ambulance workers face.

"No one wants to go out on strike, this is a very dedicated workforce and it's the last thing workers want to do, but there is concern about burnout in the service," Mr Macken said.

Pictured: File photo

"People are forced into doing extra shifts overtime and that's unfair. There's a lot of pressure on them and if issues aren't resolved, we will have a situation where the service can't be provided in a safe and equitable manner. This needs to take place to ensure the service into the future," he claimed.

The representative claimed that staff flexibility over the past 25 years is not recognised enough.

"Staff just want fairness and equitable treatment, and are asked continuously for more flexibility with no reward.

"The amount of medications used by EMTs has increased by 89% and 83% for paramedics, workload responsibilities have increased exponentially," he said.

Last week, approximately 2,000 SIPTU members in the NAS, from across the country, voted for industrial action, up to and including strike action.

Laois' ambulance unit is expected to see a 24-hour stoppage on 12 May, followed by a 48-hour stoppage beginning on 19 May and a 72-hour stoppage beginning on 26 May.

The dispute involves members working as emergency medical technicians (EMTs), paramedics, advanced paramedics, specialist paramedics and paramedic supervisors. 

The unions have formed a national strike committee, which will decide on further rolling strike action from 1 June.

"This is a long running dispute. A review was undertaken on the NAS in 2020, which took account a lot of issues that have arisen since the service has evolved over the last 20 years," Mr Macken explained.

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"This review is known as the 'roles and responsibilities' review. The ambulance service is no longer a medical transport facility with seven or eight drugs, it is now senior staff dealing with 60 to 70 drugs, with much more medical care given from ambulances nowadays.

"It isn't just transporting a patient to hospital, workers are now faced with huge responsibilities and decisions," he said.

The 2020 McHugh/Crabtree review found that salaries are inconsistent with the responsibilities and training that ambulance workers undertake.

"It has been a long time since then and the service have failed to implement the review, and failed to honour a number of WRC agreements over the years. The staff feel ignored," Mr Macken said.

"We are acutely aware that this is an essential public service, the union have asked the NAS to come forward and discuss contingency options with us, so that vulnerable people aren't left without essential ambulance cover," he said.

"We offered to meet and discuss it with them, and it hasn't happened. The result of the ballot for industrial action was almost unanimous, the frustration is palpable. It's the first time I've seen such a big response in favour, people just want to take action because they have had enough."

Laois workers involved in the ambulance strike will work-to-rule, take part in day stoppages and organise pickets at the ambulance unit and possibly the hospital.

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"The strike notice was served this week, we are bound by the agreement in place with the service and the HSE that no action can take place for a four week period," Mr Macken explained.

"These are four weeks where we can sit down, we requested that this isn't wasted and can sit down locally or under the offices of the Workplace Relations Commission, we are prepared to sit down with them at any forum. It is a requirement, and also a reasonable amount of time to look for a resolution," he finished.