Wales' five ambulance trusts were merged into one last year, creating the All-Wales Ambulance Trust. But workers at one of the former trusts are being paid a different rate to the rest.

Paramedics and ambulance technicians who work for the former South East Wales Ambulance Trust say they are unhappy they are not paid the same rates as their counterparts in the rest of Wales.

Their move to take industrial action - working to rule - will not be felt by patients for several days and the trust hopes in the meantime to resolve the dispute.

Ambulance union Unison is meeting ACAS in an attempt to resolve the pay row.

Talks aim to resolve dispute

In the case of paramedics, the pay gap is £1,000 a year. The All-Wales Ambulance Trust has offered to increase rates of pay, but staff in south east Wales are insisting on parity with staff elsewhere in Wales.

Resolve the situation

Unison officials, trust representatives are meeting with ACAS in Pontypool, Gwent, and the trust is aiming to resolve the situation as a matter of urgency.

The advent of the All-Wales Ambulance Trust - or "super trust" - was fought in some quarters, including Powys and the Welsh Conservatives called for the whole scheme to be abandoned.

Welsh Health Minister Jon Owen Jones brought about the changes to save management costs and reduce unnecessary duplications.

The announcement of a merger was made in 1997 by Mr Jones' predecessor, Win Griffiths, who estimated that reducing the number of trusts in Wales would save the NHS between £5-10million a year.