Pickets on Navan ambulance HQ tomorrow

Pickets are expected on the National Ambulance Service's regional headquarters in Navan tomorrow as the SIPTU and Unite trade unions begin a 24 hour stoppage.

SIPTU and Unite members began a campaign of industrial action today (Monday, 11th May) with work-to-rule measures implemented across the country as they prepare for the 24-hour work stoppage tomorrow.

Last month, Unite and Siptu members voted overwhelmingly for industrial action due to management’s ongoing failure to implement the 2020 ‘Roles and Responsibilities Review’.

The HSE said it has a contingency plan in place to prioritise patient safety and minimise disruption for the public in response to the industrial action.

"During the rolling industrial actions, the capacity of the NAS to respond will be significantly impacted. All other health services are operating as normal, and if there is any change to your planned care you will be contacted." a spokesperson said.

The unions say the HSE failed 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 are scheduled for 19th May and 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.

SIPTU Ambulance Sector Organiser, John McCamley, said: “The dispute involves SIPTU members working as emergency medical technicians, paramedics, advanced paramedics, specialist paramedics and paramedic supervisors. SIPTU represents around 90per cent of the NAS personnel who are participating in the industrial action.

“Over the years, 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.

"The number of operational practice guidelines for dealing with different incidents has increased dramatically over the years, including the need for additional training and qualifications.

“Since 2011, EMTs and paramedics have increased their responsibility for administering various medications by 89 per cent and 83 per cent, respectively. All we are asking is that, like other health professionals, their training and qualifications are respected and recognised in an appropriate pay and grading structure which takes account of the major workplace changes which have taken place over the last 20 years.

Mr McCamley said SIPTU members had been left with no option but to issue a strike notice due to this long-running dispute. "The overwhelming mandate from our members for industrial action up to and including strike action is an indication of the depth of feeling within the service and the belief that their sacrifice and commitment over the last 20 years to the professionalisation and modernisation of the service have been forgotten about by the HSE.

“We call on the HSE to implement the recommendations of the independent report without preconditions and to introduce enhanced pay scales which properly recognise the training and professional level at which our members now carry out their duties daily.”

Unite general secretary Sharon Gaham said the qualifications, clinical responsibilities and operational duties of ambulance personnel have expanded significantly in recent years.

"Despite the fact that the ‘Roles and Responsibilities Review’ recommended enhanced pay scales to reflect the growing professionalisation of the service, those recommendations have not been implemented.

"In addition, a five per cent increase recommended under the Benchmarking II process has not been delivered.

“It is scandalous that these frontline workers have been waiting for six years for their skills and expertise to be recognised. They have Unite’s full support in their fight for decent pay and respect”.

Regional officer Eoin Drummey said: “Resolution of this dispute is in the hands of management. If the HSE wants to avoid the inevitable disruption to ambulance services, they must commit to immediate and unconditional implementation of the recommendations of the 2020 review.”

The HSE said it has a contingency plan in place to prioritise patient safety and minimise disruption for the public in response to the industrial action.

The HSE spokesperson said that during the period of industrial action, any member of the public should contact 999 or 112 if someone is experiencing a life-threatening illness or injury. "The 999-phone service is fully operational and under the HSE’s contingency plan, priority will be given to patients facing emergencies such as cardiac or respiratory arrest, and those experiencing serious trauma such as that arising from road traffic accidents."

If you need urgent medical care, the public is advised to consider all healthcare options, and if unsure on what to do call 999 or 112. There will be delays in responding to non-life-threatening calls. Alternative healthcare options include local unjury units, which treat non-life-threatening injuries such as broken bones, dislocations, sprains, wounds, scalds, and minor burns, community pharmacists who provide expert advice and over-the-counter treatments for a wide range of minor illnesses, you GP and GP Out-of-Hours Service.

The HSE website has information about when to get help for Mental Health issues and organisations that provide mental health services.

The HSE says it regrets the decision of SIPTU and Unite to proceed with industrial action.

"Patient safety, and minimising public disruption, are the priority for the HSE.

"The HSE and State have engaged with the recognised trade unions representing NAS operational staff (SIPTU and Unite) intensively over the past two years under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). A set of independently brokered proposals aimed at resolving the dispute, and all others matters in dispute including pay and service transformation were agreed and recommended to their members by both SIPTU and Unite. The implementation of the timing of the significant increases in pay was also the subject of a Labour Court recommendation," said a spokesperson.

"In July 2025, the HSE and Government accepted both the WRC proposals and the Labour Court Recommendation, demonstrating a clear resolve and determination to address the current dispute. These proposals included 3–14 per cent pay improvements, on top of 9.25per cent under the PSA, linked to agreed reforms. In September 2025, SIPTU and Unite informed the HSE that the proposals independently brokered by the WRC, supported by a Labour Court Recommendation, and recommended by both trade unions had been rejected by their members.

"Over the period 2022- 2025, NAS has been the focus of a major transformation and investment programme to strengthen service delivery, improve patient safety, and expand alternative and community-based care."

The additional funding includes: a 41 per cent increase (€83m) in the NAS base budget to €285m, 28 per cent increase in staffing, bringing total staffing to 2,655, €126m investment in fleet replacement and expansion and additional investment this year of €20m new revenue funding, including 263 additional staff, bringing the total funded complement for 2026 to 2,920.

"The HSE and Government accepts the need to both increase and modernise pay arrangements for our staff working in the National Ambulance Service (NAS) but is also obliged to ensure that in exchange for significant increases in pay, our services can continue to transform to meet the needs of the public."