AMBULANCE workers have voted to hold a one-day strike in a dispute over patient safety and the de-recognition of their union Unite.
Unite has revealed this afternoon (Monday) that its 450 paramedics and other ambulance staff working at Yorkshire Ambulance Service have voted overwhelmingly to institute a continuous overtime ban from Tuesday, March 26, and strike for one day on Tuesday, April 2.
The union says 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 declined.
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.
"Now our members have voted for strike action and a continuous overtime ban.
"It shows the depth of concern that our members feel about patient safety because of the £46m of saving that managers want to implement.
"The hardline management has responded by derecognising Unite and twice rejecting our attempts to take this dispute to Acas and to discuss the implications of industrial action."
Unite has been angered by the introduction of the new emergency care assistants (ECAs) roles. They say ECAs only receive six weeks training, compared to a paramedic's two year degree course.
Unite claims this means underqualified staff are tending to emergencies, putting patient safety at risk.
Earlier this year, Yorkshire Ambulance Service announced it would de-recognise the union.
