WORKERS from the National Ambulance Service (NAS) are currently on strike in Bantry.

A number of ambulance personnel are on a picket line outside Bantry Hospital.

Approximately 2,000 SIPTU members of the NAS began a campaign of industrial action across the country with work-to-rule measures implemented as they prepare for a 24-hour work stoppage.

The action arises from the HSE’s failure 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 May 19th and May 26th, 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.

Speaking on the protests, 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 90% of the NAS personnel who are participating in the industrial action.

'Since 2011, EMTs and paramedics have increased their responsibility for administering various medications by 89% and 83%, 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.'

He added that NAS workers felt they had left with ' no option but to issue a strike notice due to this long-running dispute' and said that the worker's 'sacrifice and commitment over the last 20 years to the professionalisation and modernisation of the service have been forgotten about by the HSE.'