This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-31023610

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Ambulance staff strike to go ahead in Northern Ireland Ambulance staff strike to go ahead in Northern Ireland
(about 21 hours later)
A planned strike by some ambulance workers and other NHS staff in Northern Ireland is set to go ahead on Thursday.A planned strike by some ambulance workers and other NHS staff in Northern Ireland is set to go ahead on Thursday.
The strike, by members of the GMB and Unite unions, will go ahead despite a proposed pay deal drawn up after talks between unions and the government.The strike, by members of the GMB and Unite unions, will go ahead despite a proposed pay deal drawn up after talks between unions and the government.
Thousands of staff will now go on strike. Hundreds of staff will now go on strike.
The GMB said its members in the NHS will take action for 12 hours from 09:00 GMT, while ambulance staff will walk out for 12 hours from noon.The GMB said its members in the NHS will take action for 12 hours from 09:00 GMT, while ambulance staff will walk out for 12 hours from noon.
'Contingency arrangements''Contingency arrangements'
While the majority of Northern Ireland's 1,100 or so ambulance workers are members of the Unison union, the GMB estimates that 450 ambulance staff from their union and Unite will be on strike on Thursday.While the majority of Northern Ireland's 1,100 or so ambulance workers are members of the Unison union, the GMB estimates that 450 ambulance staff from their union and Unite will be on strike on Thursday.
It said about a total of 3,000 staff would be called out to strike, although some may not have been due to be on shift.It said about a total of 3,000 staff would be called out to strike, although some may not have been due to be on shift.
Unite's health officer, Kevin McAdam, said: "Our senior representatives met today [Wednesday] to consider the developments in the negotiations between the health unions and the English Department of Health.Unite's health officer, Kevin McAdam, said: "Our senior representatives met today [Wednesday] to consider the developments in the negotiations between the health unions and the English Department of Health.
"Our industrial committee concluded that due to the inaction of the Health Department here [Northern Ireland] and their unwillingness to engage with the unions, the strike action on Thursday would go ahead.""Our industrial committee concluded that due to the inaction of the Health Department here [Northern Ireland] and their unwillingness to engage with the unions, the strike action on Thursday would go ahead."
He said Unite members "have been refused the pay review body's recommendation of 1% from April 2014".He said Unite members "have been refused the pay review body's recommendation of 1% from April 2014".
Unison is not striking on Thursday, but is to ballot its members in Northern Ireland for industrial action over pay.Unison is not striking on Thursday, but is to ballot its members in Northern Ireland for industrial action over pay.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Northern Ireland's Department of Health said: "The decision to force ahead with industrial action in Northern Ireland is extremely disappointing and very difficult to justify.In a statement, a spokesperson for Northern Ireland's Department of Health said: "The decision to force ahead with industrial action in Northern Ireland is extremely disappointing and very difficult to justify.
"Industrial action in England has been called off following mutual agreement which will not risk frontline jobs or involve any increased cost to the taxpayer.""Industrial action in England has been called off following mutual agreement which will not risk frontline jobs or involve any increased cost to the taxpayer."
The department's statement added that contingency arrangements were in place to ensure that patient safety is not compromised during the strike.The department's statement added that contingency arrangements were in place to ensure that patient safety is not compromised during the strike.