Ambulance drivers taking action again

The hospital services` section of the Union Haddiema Maghqudin has directed ambulance drivers to take industrial action after talks over a claim for an allowance broke down.

Section secretary John Briffa said the action was partial in nature and that the ambulance emergency service was being carried out fully.

Negotiations were being held with the Management and Personnel Office at the Office of the Prime Minister.

The union had suspended industrial action seven weeks ago after the government had asked the union to enter into further discussions on the issue, the union said.

However, on Friday the union was informed that the government had turned down the request.

The union said it was very disappointed with the attitude of the government, which was ignoring fair claims by the drivers who were performing a useful service for the health service.

It said the claim for an allowance was linked to an upgrading of the service given by the ambulance drivers. The claim was made after the ambulance drivers had attended a first-aid course.

The union, Mr Briffa said, viewed a `stop leave` order to the ambulance drivers as an effort to hinder legitimate industrial action.

One of the directives to ambulance drivers is to refrain from handling stretchers while on duty.

The drivers have also been told to refrain from transporting people who have appointments at the outpatients department, from driving patients who are discharged from hospital, and from performing duties using coaches and light cars at night.

Furthermore, they will not drive patients from St Luke`s Hospital to private and other government hospitals, and will not clean the ambulances.