Talks over ambulance pay dispute to resume on Thursday

Negotiations aimed at resolving the ongoing pay dispute within the National Ambulance Service have concluded for the evening and are set to recommence on Thursday. The Labour Court is facilitating these discussions, offering a final opportunity for the parties to reach an agreement before further industrial action is taken next week.

SIPTU, a key union involved, characterized the day's discussions as "difficult," emphasizing that a resolution has not yet been achieved. John McCamley, SIPTU's Ambulance Sector Organiser, expressed shared disappointment over the lack of progress but affirmed the union representatives' commitment to securing the best possible deal for their members. He thanked the representatives for their dedication amidst the challenging talks.

“

The Labour Court has asked the parties to return this Thursday as a final opportunity to try to resolve the dispute before next week's industrial action.

This dispute has already led to significant disruption, including a 24-hour strike by frontline ambulance workers last Tuesday, which the HSE acknowledged had a "significant impact" on services. A planned 48-hour strike was postponed to allow for the current talks. Unions accuse the HSE of failing to implement recommendations from an independent report concerning salary scales, which they argue should reflect increased responsibilities and workload. The HSE, however, maintains that previous pay increase proposals were rejected by the unions due to unacceptable conditions attached, such as changes to allowances.

“

I share their disappointment that more progress has not been made, but union representatives want to make sure they get the best possible deal on offer.