Solidarity with the SIPTU healthcare workers taking action in Dundalk

Approximately 2,000 SIPTU members of the National Ambulance Service (NAS) began a campaign of industrial action on Monday, 11th May, with work-to-rule measures implemented across the country as they prepared for a 24-hour work stoppage on Tuesday, 12th May.

The action arises from the HSE’s failure to implement the recommendations of an independent report on updating ambulance workers’ pay scales to reflect changes in their responsibilities and workloads over the last 20 years.

Further work stoppages took place on 19th May and another is scheduled for 26th May, with further action planned during June. The work-to-rule will involve members strictly adhering to their contractual obligations and refusing to cooperate with new procedures or changes. The dispute involves SIPTU members working as emergency medical technicians, paramedics, advanced paramedics, specialist paramedics and paramedic supervisors.

Ambulance personnel have implemented changes within the service, seeing the model move away from patient transport to a higher level of pre-hospital care and treatment and EMTs and paramedics have massively increased responsibility for administering various medications. Their request that their training and qualifications are respected and recognised in an appropriate pay and grading structure which takes account of the major workplace changes is a reasonable demand.

The Workers Party supports this industrial action and demands that the HSE implements the recommendations of the independent report without preconditions and introduces enhanced pay scales which properly recognise the training and professional level at which these workers now carry out their duties.

We stand in full solidarity with the SIPTU healthcare workers in Dundalk who have taken the difficult but necessary decision to engage in industrial action. Their fight is not only justified - it is essential. These workers provide vital care every single day. They are standing up not just for themselves, but for the quality and safety of healthcare in Dundalk and across the region.

Solidarity with the SIPTU members taking action!

Your struggle is our struggle, and your victory will be a victory for every worker!