Ambulance staff vote for 24-hour strike action (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Ambulance staff vote for 24-hour strike action
7:00am Tuesday 19th March 2013 in News
By Dolores Cowburn, Bradford Chief Reporter
Ambulance staff have voted to strike
Ambulance staff in Yorkshire will hold a 24-hour strike next month after being balloted by the country’s biggest union.
The stoppage by 450 paramedics and other ambulance staff members will take place on Tuesday, April 2, unless a last-ditch solution is found, Unite warned yesterday.
Its members have also voted to hold a continuous overtime ban starting on March 26 – a week today.
In response, Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust said it had plans in place to avoid disruption to patients if the industrial action went ahead.
Unite said that it was derecognised as a trade union by the Trust after it raised concerns about patient safety as a result of the trust proposing to save £46 million over the next five years.
The union said that a key proposal by the trust was the introduction of emergency care assistants (ECAs) to work alongside more highly-trained paramedics.
The ECA staff have only six weeks’ training, whereas a paramedic undergoes a two-year degree course, it said.
The union said that this introduction had resulted in managers deploying unqualified staff to emergencies with, in some cases, other ECAs or unqualified assistant practitioners.
Unite said that it had twice attempted to discuss the implications of industrial action and also asked for the dispute to be referred to the conciliation service Acas – but the management at the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust had rebuffed the offer.
The results of its ballot released yesterday showed that 61.8 per cent of those who took part voted in favour of strike action, with 38.2 per cent voting against. Eighty-three per cent voted in favour of industrial action, short of a strike, and 17 per cent against.
Unite regional officer Terry Cunliffe said: “Unite calls for the management to open constructive negotiations in the run-up to April 2.
“This is a final window of opportunity for the trust to resolve this situation for the benefit of the Yorkshire public.
“The management has been trying to silence Unite after it raised legitimate concerns over patient safety that could flow from the shake-up of ambulance services in the next five years.”
Stephen Moir, deputy chief executive at the ambulance trust – which employs 4,300 staff, said last night: “We would like to reassure members of the public that the changes we are introducing to our A&E workforce will enable us to continue to deliver a high quality and responsive service to patients and they will always remain our top priority.
“We would also like to provide assurance that the Trust has plans in place to avoid any disruption to patient care if the union members decide to go ahead with the industrial action.”
The strike threat has divided opinion among some of the district’s MPs.
Bradford East Liberal Democrat MP, David Ward, (Lib Dem) said: “While I think that it is admirable that hard- working ambulance staff are concerned over patient safety and taking action to ensure that their voices are heard, I do not think that striking over a busy holiday period and potentially putting lives at risk is the best way to conduct themselves.”
Shipley MP Conservative Philip Davies said that he was “very disappointed” in the decision to hold a strike and believed it to be a mistake.
“I don’t see how people claiming to be acting in favour of patient safety can take strike action which can only have the effect of jeopardising patient safety,” he said.
Keighley tory MP Kris Hopkins, said: “I’m appalled. I have huge regard for the professional and often heroic work done by our ambulance staff, but this is not the right way to settle the dispute. I hope good sense will quickly prevail and the strike is called off.”
Bradford West Respect MP, George Galloway, said the strike was a “completely avoidable catastrophe” and called for ambulance trust bosses to hold talks with the union.
“I believe that the vast majority of the public will support the ambulance workers in this dispute,” he said.
“The least they deserve is to be treated with respect by their bosses and have their legitimate grievances properly addressed.”
Bradford South Labour MP Gerry Sutcliffe was not available for comment.
Comments(19)
Mik_e
says...
9:04am Tue 19 Mar 13
Joedavid
says...
10:21am Tue 19 Mar 13
Albion. wrote:Yes that is bad and should be sorted out, just not both sides meeting is terrible and heads need to be knocked together by the Government or we will be like in Staffordshire with unnecessary suffering and deaths.
"The union said that this introduction had resulted in managers deploying unqualified staff to emergencies with, in some cases, other ECAs or unqualified assistant practitioners."
If that is true then it is unforgivable and dangerous.
I agree with the idea of ECAs, if they are properly deployed, It's sad that it has come to this, the strike will probably solve nothing (do they ever) and will lead to our much valued ambulance workers being out of pocket.....Get it sorted!
But surely the staff with holding their labour is going to cause suffering and possibly death.
If the management are sending wrong staff out then the staff should be whistle blowing is this not what the NHS staff have been asked to do?
Andy2010
says...
10:55am Tue 19 Mar 13
No emergency services should be allowed to strike full stop as it endangers lives.
Once again its the dinosaur Unions trying to flex their muscles when they know they are dead and buried whilst their members subsidise their leaders lavish lifestyles....and they have the cheek to crititsise bankers....you couldn't make it up
scottie dog
says...
11:02am Tue 19 Mar 13
Joedavid wrote:Do not believe the hot air spouted about whistle blowers being protected vindictive management will always find a way to persecute them.
Albion. wrote:Yes that is bad and should be sorted out, just not both sides meeting is terrible and heads need to be knocked together by the Government or we will be like in Staffordshire with unnecessary suffering and deaths.
"The union said that this introduction had resulted in managers deploying unqualified staff to emergencies with, in some cases, other ECAs or unqualified assistant practitioners."
If that is true then it is unforgivable and dangerous.
I agree with the idea of ECAs, if they are properly deployed, It's sad that it has come to this, the strike will probably solve nothing (do they ever) and will lead to our much valued ambulance workers being out of pocket.....Get it sorted!
But surely the staff with holding their labour is going to cause suffering and possibly death.
If the management are sending wrong staff out then the staff should be whistle blowing is this not what the NHS staff have been asked to do?
Outraged English Subject
says...
1:00pm Tue 19 Mar 13
scottie dog wrote:Very true!
Joedavid wrote:Do not believe the hot air spouted about whistle blowers being protected vindictive management will always find a way to persecute them.
Albion. wrote:Yes that is bad and should be sorted out, just not both sides meeting is terrible and heads need to be knocked together by the Government or we will be like in Staffordshire with unnecessary suffering and deaths.
"The union said that this introduction had resulted in managers deploying unqualified staff to emergencies with, in some cases, other ECAs or unqualified assistant practitioners."
If that is true then it is unforgivable and dangerous.
I agree with the idea of ECAs, if they are properly deployed, It's sad that it has come to this, the strike will probably solve nothing (do they ever) and will lead to our much valued ambulance workers being out of pocket.....Get it sorted!
But surely the staff with holding their labour is going to cause suffering and possibly death.
If the management are sending wrong staff out then the staff should be whistle blowing is this not what the NHS staff have been asked to do?
Prisoner Cell Block A
says...
1:11pm Tue 19 Mar 13
This strike MUST go ahead and needs to be followed by other critical national services.
Time for us all to stand up and be counted and stop the oppression of the majority class, workers by the minority class, Bullindon Boys.
100+ years ago we hardly had any taxes, we had no national debt, we had a massive manufacturing and export foundation, most adults were in work, most mothers stayed home and brought up the family.
Present, taxed beyond death, a national debt which will never be paid down, little manufacturing and export, many adults unemployed or employed under such treacherous contracts that they are in fear of job loss daily, respectable mothers now join the fathers of familys in trying to keep heads above water.
The relevance of the above to the story is;
FIGHT THEM ALL THE WAY, EVERY TIME.
We roll over, we die.
Albion.
says...
1:22pm Tue 19 Mar 13
Prisoner Cell Block A wrote:100+ years ago, we owned most of the world.
The deployment of untrained, or under trained staff over a long period is far more damaging and dangerous than a one day strike by the ambulance service(s).
This strike MUST go ahead and needs to be followed by other critical national services.
Time for us all to stand up and be counted and stop the oppression of the majority class, workers by the minority class, Bullindon Boys.
100+ years ago we hardly had any taxes, we had no national debt, we had a massive manufacturing and export foundation, most adults were in work, most mothers stayed home and brought up the family.
Present, taxed beyond death, a national debt which will never be paid down, little manufacturing and export, many adults unemployed or employed under such treacherous contracts that they are in fear of job loss daily, respectable mothers now join the fathers of familys in trying to keep heads above water.
The relevance of the above to the story is;
FIGHT THEM ALL THE WAY, EVERY TIME.
We roll over, we die.
Outraged English Subject
says...
1:38pm Tue 19 Mar 13
Albion. wrote:PMSL! You are smoking the weed AGAIN! I see. “we owned most of the world” what an idiot.
Prisoner Cell Block A wrote:100+ years ago, we owned most of the world.
The deployment of untrained, or under trained staff over a long period is far more damaging and dangerous than a one day strike by the ambulance service(s).
This strike MUST go ahead and needs to be followed by other critical national services.
Time for us all to stand up and be counted and stop the oppression of the majority class, workers by the minority class, Bullindon Boys.
100+ years ago we hardly had any taxes, we had no national debt, we had a massive manufacturing and export foundation, most adults were in work, most mothers stayed home and brought up the family.
Present, taxed beyond death, a national debt which will never be paid down, little manufacturing and export, many adults unemployed or employed under such treacherous contracts that they are in fear of job loss daily, respectable mothers now join the fathers of familys in trying to keep heads above water.
The relevance of the above to the story is;
FIGHT THEM ALL THE WAY, EVERY TIME.
We roll over, we die.
Albion.
says...
1:51pm Tue 19 Mar 13
Outraged English Subject wrote:http://www.telegraph
Albion. wrote:PMSL! You are smoking the weed AGAIN! I see. “we owned most of the world” what an idiot.
Prisoner Cell Block A wrote:100+ years ago, we owned most of the world.
The deployment of untrained, or under trained staff over a long period is far more damaging and dangerous than a one day strike by the ambulance service(s).
This strike MUST go ahead and needs to be followed by other critical national services.
Time for us all to stand up and be counted and stop the oppression of the majority class, workers by the minority class, Bullindon Boys.
100+ years ago we hardly had any taxes, we had no national debt, we had a massive manufacturing and export foundation, most adults were in work, most mothers stayed home and brought up the family.
Present, taxed beyond death, a national debt which will never be paid down, little manufacturing and export, many adults unemployed or employed under such treacherous contracts that they are in fear of job loss daily, respectable mothers now join the fathers of familys in trying to keep heads above water.
The relevance of the above to the story is;
FIGHT THEM ALL THE WAY, EVERY TIME.
We roll over, we die.
.co.uk/history/96534
97/British-have-inva
ded-nine-out-of-ten-
countries-so-look-ou
t-Luxembourg.html
Yorkshire Lass
says...
2:20pm Tue 19 Mar 13
Albion. wrote:If this is true, why are the unions calling for a strike? Surely it is up to them to sort the matter, after all they do get paid well for their services, even more so as the Council contributes almost £500,000 per year to them. Of course this is out of the tax payers money so you would think they would try harder before calling a strike.
"The union said that this introduction had resulted in managers deploying unqualified staff to emergencies with, in some cases, other ECAs or unqualified assistant practitioners."
If that is true then it is unforgivable and dangerous.
I agree with the idea of ECAs, if they are properly deployed, It's sad that it has come to this, the strike will probably solve nothing (do they ever) and will lead to our much valued ambulance workers being out of pocket.....Get it sorted!
Andy2010
says...
3:44pm Tue 19 Mar 13
Yorkshire Lass wrote:Its because it justifies them jobs when in reality there is nothing for them to do with little or no support
Albion. wrote:If this is true, why are the unions calling for a strike? Surely it is up to them to sort the matter, after all they do get paid well for their services, even more so as the Council contributes almost £500,000 per year to them. Of course this is out of the tax payers money so you would think they would try harder before calling a strike.
"The union said that this introduction had resulted in managers deploying unqualified staff to emergencies with, in some cases, other ECAs or unqualified assistant practitioners."
If that is true then it is unforgivable and dangerous.
I agree with the idea of ECAs, if they are properly deployed, It's sad that it has come to this, the strike will probably solve nothing (do they ever) and will lead to our much valued ambulance workers being out of pocket.....Get it sorted!
I long for the day when Unions has diminished to nothing
Andy2010
says...
3:45pm Tue 19 Mar 13
Prisoner Cell Block A wrote:LOL Just LOL
The deployment of untrained, or under trained staff over a long period is far more damaging and dangerous than a one day strike by the ambulance service(s).
This strike MUST go ahead and needs to be followed by other critical national services.
Time for us all to stand up and be counted and stop the oppression of the majority class, workers by the minority class, Bullindon Boys.
100+ years ago we hardly had any taxes, we had no national debt, we had a massive manufacturing and export foundation, most adults were in work, most mothers stayed home and brought up the family.
Present, taxed beyond death, a national debt which will never be paid down, little manufacturing and export, many adults unemployed or employed under such treacherous contracts that they are in fear of job loss daily, respectable mothers now join the fathers of familys in trying to keep heads above water.
The relevance of the above to the story is;
FIGHT THEM ALL THE WAY, EVERY TIME.
We roll over, we die.
peteclarke
says...
4:54pm Tue 19 Mar 13
The trust that employes our emergency services say they want to save £46 million over five years, why?, if that money guarantees us a first class ambulance service which is the envy of the world why would anybody wish to change it for a third rate, third world service that puts us all at risk, this "THREAT" of industrial action gets full support from me, because at the moment that is all it is.
Please consider this, the removal of police officers from our streets in favour of PCSOs, the decimation of the fire service and now so called "ECA,s instead of paramedics leads me to conclude that if you want the best, you have to pay for it, if not welcome to the third world
allinittogether
says...
7:31pm Tue 19 Mar 13
peteclarke wrote:HEAR HEAR!
The condemnation of this threat of industrial action by MPs followed by platitudes of ingratiation by them is what "appalls" me, their combined weight in support for these highly trained, overworked proffessionals could tip the balance in their favour if they had the b.lls to step in and help but no, they pontificate from a distance and hope a voter is watching them.
The trust that employes our emergency services say they want to save £46 million over five years, why?, if that money guarantees us a first class ambulance service which is the envy of the world why would anybody wish to change it for a third rate, third world service that puts us all at risk, this "THREAT" of industrial action gets full support from me, because at the moment that is all it is.
Please consider this, the removal of police officers from our streets in favour of PCSOs, the decimation of the fire service and now so called "ECA,s instead of paramedics leads me to conclude that if you want the best, you have to pay for it, if not welcome to the third world
Mish29
says...
9:53am Wed 20 Mar 13
Andy2010 wrote:If it wasnt for the unions you wouldn't have a police,ambulance or fire service. This government would have taken care of that I assure you !!
What exactly are they striking over ?
No emergency services should be allowed to strike full stop as it endangers lives.
Once again its the dinosaur Unions trying to flex their muscles when they know they are dead and buried whilst their members subsidise their leaders lavish lifestyles....and they have the cheek to crititsise bankers....you couldn't make it up
Mish29
says...
9:53am Wed 20 Mar 13
peteclarke wrote:Excellent, what you say is so true!
The condemnation of this threat of industrial action by MPs followed by platitudes of ingratiation by them is what "appalls" me, their combined weight in support for these highly trained, overworked proffessionals could tip the balance in their favour if they had the b.lls to step in and help but no, they pontificate from a distance and hope a voter is watching them.
The trust that employes our emergency services say they want to save £46 million over five years, why?, if that money guarantees us a first class ambulance service which is the envy of the world why would anybody wish to change it for a third rate, third world service that puts us all at risk, this "THREAT" of industrial action gets full support from me, because at the moment that is all it is.
Please consider this, the removal of police officers from our streets in favour of PCSOs, the decimation of the fire service and now so called "ECA,s instead of paramedics leads me to conclude that if you want the best, you have to pay for it, if not welcome to the third world
bd7 helper
says...
5:07pm Wed 20 Mar 13
thruth9211
says...
6:16pm Wed 20 Mar 13
I say stike for longer, as us health care profeesionals are not allowed to strike and work in comparmising situation
Cost before care
Albion. says...
7:14am Tue 19 Mar 13
If that is true then it is unforgivable and dangerous.
I agree with the idea of ECAs, if they are properly deployed, It's sad that it has come to this, the strike will probably solve nothing (do they ever) and will lead to our much valued ambulance workers being out of pocket.....Get it sorted!