Irish Ambulance Workers Refuse to Work Overtime Over Labor Dispute

In an interesting story from across the Atlantic, approximately 500 paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) have “withdrawn” from working overtime following a labor dispute with Ireland’s Health Service Executive (HSE). The HSE is a governmental agency charged with providing health and social services to all of Ireland.

According to the Irish Examiner, the dispute between the HSE and members of the National Ambulance Service Representative Association (NASRA), stems over the HSE’s refusal to allow the union to represent the ambulance workers or deduct union dues from their pay checks.

In response, almost 30 percent of national ambulance personnel, or 500 medics and EMTs, have refused to work overtime. This has resulted in, according to union officials, a reduction in as many as 50 percent of the available ambulances for several Irish cities and counties. According to HSE officials, the personnel shortage did not interrupt any services. However, the HSE promises to  continue to monitor “the situation closely.”

It is unclear how long ambulance workers will continue to “withdraw” from overtime or how this may affect EMS service going forward. Click here for more on the story from the Irish Examiner.

 

Contact  William Maccarone to Discuss The Article