Ambulance workers in Waterford are among staff across the country currently being balloted for industrial action in an ongoing dispute with the National Ambulance Service. The ballot is being organised by Unite the Union, which represents ambulance personnel working in the service.

Progress on Paramedic Contracts

The dispute continues despite recent progress on two separate issues involving graduate paramedics. NAS management confirmed this week that third-year graduate paramedics will receive permanent appointments and that the previously agreed transfer policy will be honoured. Unite regional officer Eoin Drummey welcomed the decision, saying it followed engagement between management and the Irish Ambulance Representative Council, which includes Unite and SIPTU. Drummey said union pressure played a role in securing the commitment. He said unions had made it clear they were prepared to begin a separate industrial action ballot involving approximately 70 recently graduated paramedics if the issues were not addressed.

Ballot Continues Over Pay Review

However, Unite says the wider ballot for industrial action will continue because a 2020 Roles and Responsibilities Review has still not been implemented. The review examined the duties of ambulance personnel and recognised that paramedics have taken on significantly expanded clinical responsibilities and operational roles over the past 15 years. It recommended enhanced pay scales to reflect those changes, along with a 5 per cent pay increase linked to the Benchmarking II process. Drummey said those recommendations remain outstanding six years later. He said ambulance workers have continued to modernise and upskill but have not received the pay adjustments recommended in the review.

Ballot Closing Date

Unite members working in the National Ambulance Service, including staff based in Waterford, are now voting on whether to support industrial action. The ballot will remain open until early April, after which the union will count the votes and notify management of the outcome. Drummey said the union expects strong support for industrial action among members.

Possible Forms of Industrial Action

If members vote in favour, Unite says several forms of industrial action could follow. These could include measures such as a ban on overtime or a work-to-rule, depending on the outcome of discussions with management. Drummey said the union hopes management will engage with unions before the dispute escalates further. He also criticised what he described as a piecemeal approach to resolving industrial relations issues within the ambulance service.

Concerns Over Staffing

Unite has also raised concerns about staffing pressures across the ambulance service. Drummey said the dispute comes against the backdrop of broader challenges facing the health system, including workforce shortages across several areas of the Health Service Executive. The union says a full implementation of the Roles and Responsibilities Review would provide certainty for ambulance workers and recognise the expanded duties they now carry out. For the latest Waterford News and Sport, tune into WLR News on the hour and download the WLR App for news on demand.