Ambulance workers vote for industrial action in shift dispute in Northern Ireland, says Unite

Paramedics and ambulance workers in Unite have voted decisively for industrial action in a recent consultative ballot.

In total 86% indicated a willingness to take strike action on management proposals to impose a new shift system.

Unite the union represents more than 400 paramedics and ambulance workers employed by the NI Ambulance Service. 

The new shifts were to be piloted in the South Eastern health and social care area for a year and would see a significant reduction in ambulance cover at nighttime.

While the new shifts are only being trialled in the South East they will impact ambulance services across Northern Ireland. 

Existing NIAS cover arrangements see ambulances travel from across Northern Ireland to cover shortfalls.

The new shifts will increase the likelihood for such long journeys which then has a knock-on impact leaving other areas, especially rural ones, with insufficient cover.

Sharon Graham, general secretary at Unite, said: “These new shifts are just a bandage to cover over the ambulance service staffing crisis.