04/08/2016

Siptu To Attend Meeting To Attempt To Revert Strike Action In NAS

Union representatives from Siptu are to attend a meeting with Health Service Executive (HSE) management and Department of Health officials today, 04 August, to try to avert strike action in the National Ambulance Service (NAS).

Siptu Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell, said: "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.

"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, 10 August. The fact that the Minister for Health, Simon Harris, has remained indifferent throughout this dispute is totally unacceptable."

Sinn Fein president, Gerry Adams, said: "The concerns they have raised in the past number of weeks in negotiations with management are genuine and are centred on the failure of the HSE to implement Labour Court recommendations, honour public service pay agreements and adequately resource ambulance services.

"The Minister for Health, Simon Harris and the HSE need to directly intervene immediately, acknowledge the serious issues being raised by ambulance staff and their union representatives, and address the issues at hand without delay."

(CD/JP)

Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

09 June 2016
NAS Control Centre Strike Action Rescheduled
Strike action at the National Ambulance Service control centre has been rescheduled for Monday, 20 June, it has announced. Trade union SIPTU said the action has been rescheduled to allow time for negotiations and the finalisation of contingency plans.
02 April 2014
Minister Publishes Universal Healthcare: White Paper
The Minister for Health, James Reilly, T.D. today 2 April published 'The Path to Universal Healthcare: White Paper on Universal Health Insurance'.
29 April 2016
Sinn Féin Condemns Decision To Cut Mental Health Budget
A decision by the government to remove €12 million from the mental health budget has been condemned by Sinn Féin's TD, Dessie Ellis. Speaking ahead of a protest held on Thursday, Deputy Ellis said: "People suffering with mental health issues are strong, they deal with great pressures every day but they need our support to survive and recover.
14 December 2016
HSE Publishes 2017 National Service Plan
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has published its 2017 National Service Plan, following approval by the Minister for Health, Simon Harris. The plan details the delivery of health services that the HSE will provide directly, and through a range of funded agencies, in 2017.
20 May 2016
SIPTU Criticises HSE Over Decision To Suspend Health Service Recruitment
Trade union SIPTU has called on the Health Service Executive (HSE) to reverse its decision to suspend recruitment in the health service. The union said it has written to the HSE to "demand management reverse a decision to suspend recruitment in all areas of the health service".