Scottish Ambulance - More Talks
Tuesday 10th January 2012
GMB WELCOME INVOLVEMENT OF SCOTTISH
GOVERNMENT AS TALKS CONTINUE TODAY OVER STATUS OF SCOTTISH
AMBULANCE SERVICE AND INTERIM ARRANGEMENTS STAY IN
PLACE
GMB committed to securing an
upgrade in the status of the Ambulance Service in Scotland from an
essential service to an emergency service like the Police and Fire
Services
GMB welcomed the fact that a senior civil
servant from the Scottish government has now joined talks on the
ambulance service in Scotland which continue today. GMB had
previously called for the involvement of the Scottish government in
the talks. While the talks are underway the interim arrangements to
provide emergency cover will continue until next week.
GMB negotiators attended talks yesterday
(Monday 9th Janaury 2012) with the Scottish Ambulance Service
management in Edinburgh. The meeting came only days after GMB
members rejected the latest offer over rest breaks by 77% to
23%.
At the end of yesterday’s meeting the
parties agreed to extend the interim arrangements until Monday 16th
January 2012 to allow further negotiations to take place during the
course of this week.
GMB's call for the Scottish Ambulance
Service to be upgraded from an essential service to an emergency
service, like the fire and police services, has now been agreed by
all unions involved in the talks as a means of resolving this
dispute.
Harry Donaldson, GMB Scottish Secretary
said, “Following a call from GMB for the Scottish
Government to become involved a Senior Civil Servant has been
appointed to support the parties in these complex discussions and
GMB welcomes this.
In these talks GMB will reiterate
that GMB members consider that this issue is not about money.
Rather it is about rest breaks and the status of the Scottish
Ambulance Service. GMB remain committed to securing an upgrade in
the status of the Ambulance Service in Scotland from an essential
service to an emergency service like the Police and Fire Services.
GMB consider that that is the only long term way to protect the
Scottish public and offer them the emergency service that they
require and rightly expect. GMB is now calling for the direct
intervention of the Scottish Government in this ongoing
dispute.”
Ends
Contact: Harry Donaldson, GMB Scottish
Secretary on 07885 456726 or Barry Fletcher, GMB Organiser on 07921
885775 or 0141 332 8641 or Mick Conroy on 07921 289737 or GMB Press
Office: Steve Pryle on 07921 289880 or Rose Conroy on 07974
251823.