Ambulance workers 'could strike'

Singly staffed ambulances are among the employees' grievances

Ambulance staff in the Highlands will consider strike action if concerns over single manning and long distance duties are not resolved, a union has said.

Andy Watson, a Unison regional convener, said an urgent meeting would be sought with Scottish Ambulance Service management within a week.

If the meeting and the grievances system fail to resolve the matter, an informal ballot of staff will be held.

Hundreds of paramedics, technicians and control room workers could be involved.

Employees have had long-running grievances about ambulances being singly staffed, crews arriving in Inverness from the far north and Skye then having to cover 999 calls in the city and unpaid overtime.

Mr Watson said management would be asked to address the issues in the meeting, before they were pursued through the grievances procedures.

Staff will be asked to consider starting the process towards industrial action if the problems persist, he said.

The bulk of the staff are union members, including Unison, T&G and GMB, but it was thought up to about 700-800 were not affiliated.