SIPTU and Unite Plan Ambulance Strikes Over Pay; SIPTU Also Strikes Steris Tullamore
Approximately 2,000 SIPTU and Unite members in the National Ambulance Service plan strikes over pay, accusing the HSE of failing to implement recommended salary scale updates. Separately, SIPTU members at Steris AST in Tullamore will strike on May 15 over union recognition and management's refusal to negotiate on pay and sick leave.
SIPTU and Unite members, approximately 2,000, in the National Ambulance Service will engage in a work-to-rule on Monday, followed by a 24-hour strike on Tuesday. Further stoppages are planned for 48 hours on May 19, 72 hours on May 26, and additional action in June. Unions accuse the HSE of not implementing an independent report's recommendations for updated salary scales reflecting increased responsibilities and workload.
SIPTU Ambulance Sector Organiser John McCamley urged TDs and Senators to support members and called on the HSE to implement the report's recommendations without preconditions, introducing enhanced pay scales. The HSE stated it met with unions in February, proposing new pay scales recognizing transformative change, subject to Department of Health and Public Expenditure and Reform approval. This proposal was rejected by SIPTU and Unite.
Separately, SIPTU members at Steris AST in Tullamore, Co Offaly, will strike for 24 hours starting 8 am on Friday, May 15, over union recognition. SIPTU accuses management of refusing to engage on issues like sick leave and pay, despite over a decade of attempts and a 2018 Labour Court intervention. SIPTU Sector Organiser Andrea Cleere stated workers were forced to strike due to the company's refusal to collectively bargain and its unilateral changes to sick pay and remuneration.