Northern Ireland ambulance workers prepare for strike
Northern Ireland ambulance staff strike called off
(about 6 hours later)
Ambulance workers in Northern Ireland are preparing to strike on Thursday in a protest over pay.
Planned strikes by ambulance workers in Northern Ireland and England on Thursday have been suspended.
Talks were held in England on Monday and the unions in Northern Ireland met their bosses to discuss contingency plans for the strike.
Talks were held in England on Tuesday between union members and the government.
In Northern Ireland, the workers plan to walk out from 12:00 GMT and stay out until 23:59 GMT.
Staff were threatening to strike in response to a decision not to implement a 1% increase in NHS staff salaries across the board.
The action is in response to a decision not to implement a 1% increase in NHS staff salaries across the board.
Unison said a new pay proposal has now been put forward by the government.
The government pay review body recommended a minimum increase of 1%. That has been implemented in Scotland and Wales, but not in England and Northern Ireland.
The government pay review body had originally recommended a minimum increase of 1%.
Michael Mulholland, of the GMB union, said talks with management locally were about contingency plans for Thursday.
That has been implemented in Scotland and Wales, but not in England and Northern Ireland.
"Our members have agreed that they will respond, should there be a major incident or a large number of emergency calls," he told BBC NI's Good Morning Ulster.
Unison's head of health and the unions' lead negotiator, Christina McAnea, said the new offer "wasn't great", but addressed some of the key concerns unions had about low pay in the NHS.
"We want a commitment from the health minister, Jim Wells, that he will adhere to recommendations from the pay review body and pay all the NHS staff the 1% increase, not just those who do not enjoy an incremental increase in salary linked to their length of service."
She said unions would now consult their members about the proposal.
In a statement, the ambulance service said: "NIAS respects the right of trade unions to take part in industrial action and their members' right to participate.
"It will be up to members to decide whether to accept or reject the proposals. If they choose to reject them we will move to further industrial action," she added.
"NIAS have been involved through the Regional Joint Negotiating Forum in the development of a protocol that agreed with trade union colleagues that for the duration of the industrial action, members will provide cover for emergency services and activities.
Another planned walk-out in February has also been suspended.
"Management will continue to work locally with staff and trade union colleagues to mitigate against any risk to patient care during the period of action."
