Today's 24 hour strike action by ambulance workers across the country is the first National Strike ever in the Ambulance service. The decision to strike was not taken lightly and remarkably the workers voted to reject a deal that was recommended by their trade unions SIPTU and Unite.
Pickets by members of NASRA have been familiar in the last few years. They were fighting for full recognition of their union which is a branch of the PNA (Psychiatric Nurses Association). But today everybody was out together all over Ireland.
Pickets have been big, lively, determined and hugely supported by members of the public and other public sector workers.
Workers rejected a pay deal not because of the amount of money on offer but because their terms and conditions were also being diminished within the deal.
Pauline who is a shop steward at the Davitt Road depot explained:
"As emergency workers we have brought momumental changes to the health service over the last 15 years. We have upskilled, trained and have been educated to degree level for Paramedics and to Master Degrees for Advanced Paramedics. After 31 years of service in this job my basic salary is a mere 46,000 euro per annum. If they want to water down allowances for shift, for Saturday and Sunday work we would lose out hugely."
Pauline is due to retire in two years but says that for her and her colleagues this strike is about the future for the job:
"(It's) for the young men and women who work with us, for their pay, pensions and conditions. Many young workers whould be forced to work to 70 years of age to be able to get full pensions. If the Government really value our work then they would give us parity with the Gardai and other emergency workers."
Donal who is also an elected rep at the depot says:
"We have to think of the future of this job especially for the younger workers with us here today. Their starting pay is an appallingly low 27,000 per annum. The changes we need now are changes we have been waiting for 15 years - we need parity in terms of pay, pensions and paid leave."
Next Tuesday and Wednesday strikers will take to the picket line again all over Ireland for two full days strike action and that will be escalated in the following weeks.
They have committed to maintaining an emergency ambulance service just as they did today and continue on a work-to-rule.
All workers should stand with the ambulance workers.
All workers need a pay rise in this cost of living crisis and
All workers gain when we stay united together.