AMBULANCE drivers have served formal strike notice for industrial action from April 14th. Union sources were not optimistic yesterday that a strike could be avoided given the gap between the two sides, writes Padraig Yeates.
However, there were signs that progress might be made in resolving a parallel dispute involving paramedics in the health services. Their union, IMPACT, made a detailed submission to the Health Employer Services Association yesterday and the association is to respond next week. After the meeting, IMPACT general secretary, Mr Peter McLoone, said it would be clearer if the situation could be resolved when the union received management's response.
While management was trying to argue that paramedics could not expect a similar offer to nurses, Mr McLoone said there were Labour Court recommendations and management documentation showing very strong linkages.
Paramedics conclude a ballot on April 11th. If, as expected, it is in favour of industrial action, two weeks' strike notice will most likely be served.
Earlier the SIPTU regional secretary, Mr Brendan Hayes, said that the votes for industrial action by ambulance drivers denoted massive dissatisfaction over the failure of management to implement the proposals of the review which followed the 1993 strike. He denied the union was in breach of the industrial peace clause of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work.
Management argues that it is offering provincial ambulance drivers parity with Dublin drivers at the latter's current rates.