[A-List] UK labour militancy: ambulance workers

["Michael Keaney" <michael.keaney@xxxxxx>]

Ambulance staff vote for action
BILLY BRIGGS
The Herald, 29 October 2002

AMBULANCE staff in Scotland have backed industrial action over a 5% pay
claim, their union said yesterday.

Although the Transport and General Workers' Union said members supported
taking measures short of strike action, a "significant number" of those
balloted were ready to strike.

The TGWU, the largest sing le union representing workers in all sections of
the Scottish Ambulance Service - including paramedics, technicians,
administration and control staff - has expressed concern on a number of
occasions over the slow progress of pay negotiations. It has now called for
urgent talks with management.

Jimmy Farrelly, the union's senior regional organiser in Scotland, said:
"Over 78% of our members have voted for action short of a strike action and
almost 45% were prepared to go as far as strike action.

"This clearly demonstrates the strength of feeling among the workforce and
we will now be calling upon the Scottish Ambulance Service to enter into
urgent discussions with the trade unions to seek a just settlement of the
pay issues."

An SAS paramedic can earn up to £21,393 and an ambulance technician earns
about £19,500 for a 42-hour week.

The unions claim salaries are 30% lower than the average non-manual workers'
pay.

Pay talks began in March, but broke down in September when crews rejected a
final offer of 3.6%. Any action taken by ambulance staff could coincide with
a strike by firefighters.

Nicola Sturgeon, the SNP's shadow health minister, said the development was
deeply worrying.