Menu
21/04/2016
NAS Emergency Control Centre Staff Vote For Strike Action
SIPTU members of the National Ambulance Service (NAS) have voted in favour of industrial action at the emergency control centre in Tallaght.
The union said its members voted "overwhelmingly in favour" of the action in a dispute over staffing levels, the filling of vacancies and retention of staff.
SIPTU Organiser, John McCamley, said: "This dispute results from a refusal of the management of the emergency control centre to implement Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) proposals to deal with issues relating to staffing levels, the filling of vacancies and the retention of staff.
"Over the last year, SIPTU members have repeatedly highlighted the crisis regarding the retention of emergency call takers within the service. These highly trained and skilled staff who are responsible for taking emergency calls from the public and classifying their level of urgency have a starting rate of pay of just over €21,500 per year. This level of pay coupled with the stressful nature of the job has led to a high turnover of staff.
"The WRC proposals seek to deal with this issue as well as the filling of vacant permanent dispatcher posts. These members manage the allocation of resources to emergency calls."
He added: "SIPTU members are calling on management to fulfill its obligations under the WRC proposals. If these staffing issues are not addressed as a matter of urgency there is a serious risk to the effective operation of the emergency control centre.
"The present system of recruiting staff is not fit for purpose. The HSE national recruitment service should hand over responsibility for recruitment for this emergency operations centre to the NAS. The HSE should also review the grading structure of emergency call takers in a bid to retain these essential staff within the control centre."
(MH/LM)
The union said its members voted "overwhelmingly in favour" of the action in a dispute over staffing levels, the filling of vacancies and retention of staff.
SIPTU Organiser, John McCamley, said: "This dispute results from a refusal of the management of the emergency control centre to implement Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) proposals to deal with issues relating to staffing levels, the filling of vacancies and the retention of staff.
"Over the last year, SIPTU members have repeatedly highlighted the crisis regarding the retention of emergency call takers within the service. These highly trained and skilled staff who are responsible for taking emergency calls from the public and classifying their level of urgency have a starting rate of pay of just over €21,500 per year. This level of pay coupled with the stressful nature of the job has led to a high turnover of staff.
"The WRC proposals seek to deal with this issue as well as the filling of vacant permanent dispatcher posts. These members manage the allocation of resources to emergency calls."
He added: "SIPTU members are calling on management to fulfill its obligations under the WRC proposals. If these staffing issues are not addressed as a matter of urgency there is a serious risk to the effective operation of the emergency control centre.
"The present system of recruiting staff is not fit for purpose. The HSE national recruitment service should hand over responsibility for recruitment for this emergency operations centre to the NAS. The HSE should also review the grading structure of emergency call takers in a bid to retain these essential staff within the control centre."
(MH/LM)
Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
26 February 2016
SIPTU Calls For Support Of Striking Emergency Call Centre Workers
Health Division members of SIPTU have called for support of striking emergency call centre workers in their dispute over pay. The worker held a 12-hour work stoppage on Thursday in Navan, Co Meath, with SIPTU members joining them on the picket line in an act of solidarity.
SIPTU Calls For Support Of Striking Emergency Call Centre Workers
Health Division members of SIPTU have called for support of striking emergency call centre workers in their dispute over pay. The worker held a 12-hour work stoppage on Thursday in Navan, Co Meath, with SIPTU members joining them on the picket line in an act of solidarity.
06 January 2015
600 Patients On Trolleys In Hospital A&Es - INMO
Fianna Fáil is calling for the Oireachtas Committee on Health to be reconvened this week to discuss the ongoing overcrowding crisis at the country's Emergency Departments.
600 Patients On Trolleys In Hospital A&Es - INMO
Fianna Fáil is calling for the Oireachtas Committee on Health to be reconvened this week to discuss the ongoing overcrowding crisis at the country's Emergency Departments.
28 April 2015
All New Cars In EU To Be Fitted With eCall Emergency Call System
All new cars in the EU will be fitted with an emergency call system from 2018, following the passing of legislation by the European Parliament. Fine Gael welcomed the news that the new eCall system, which in the event of a road accident will automatically connect to emergency services, will be mandatory for new vehicles.
All New Cars In EU To Be Fitted With eCall Emergency Call System
All new cars in the EU will be fitted with an emergency call system from 2018, following the passing of legislation by the European Parliament. Fine Gael welcomed the news that the new eCall system, which in the event of a road accident will automatically connect to emergency services, will be mandatory for new vehicles.
29 April 2015
Major Fire Ongoing In Ballymount
Dublin Fire Brigade is tackling a a major incident at a storage facility in Ballymount. Emergency services were called to reports of a fire at the Store It facility at about 10:15 this morning – seven fire engines and specialist emergency equipment is currently on the scene.
Major Fire Ongoing In Ballymount
Dublin Fire Brigade is tackling a a major incident at a storage facility in Ballymount. Emergency services were called to reports of a fire at the Store It facility at about 10:15 this morning – seven fire engines and specialist emergency equipment is currently on the scene.
30 September 2014
Call For Emergency Plan At UHL
The Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation (INMO) is calling for the implementation of the Major Emergency Plan at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) to bring about a level of control and safety at the Emergency Department.
Call For Emergency Plan At UHL
The Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation (INMO) is calling for the implementation of the Major Emergency Plan at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) to bring about a level of control and safety at the Emergency Department.
-
Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Dry for much of the night. Clear periods at first with mist and fog re-forming, Becoming cloudy later tonight with patchy drizzle towards the North Coast. Minimum temperature 3 °C.
