Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 November 2020
230. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the right of ambulance personnel to join and be represented by a union of their choice; the status of the dispute between the HSE and members of a union (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35697/20]
View answerDuring 2019, a branch of the Psychiatric Nurses Association called the National Ambulance Service Representative Association (NASRA) engaged in industrial action. The Psychiatric Nurses Association state that their industrial action is in connection with two substantive issues. The first is the automated deduction of union subscriptions. The second is the refusal by the HSE to engage in negotiations with the PNA or to recognise the PNA as representing ambulance personnel.
It should be noted that the HSE deducts subscriptions at source for those ambulance staff that are members of a number of unions. These are SIPTU, FORSA and UNITE. The deduction of subscriptions is not a legal right but rather a concession granted to recognised unions. To be clear, NASRA, which is affiliated with the PNA, is a group which is not recognised by the HSE and, therefore, does not have negotiating rights. The PNA does not have negotiating rights for ambulance personnel.
It is not possible to negotiate with a union which is not recognised as having negotiating rights for ambulance grades.
Industrial relations policy has had a long-standing objective of avoiding fragmentation in worker representation in public sector employments, and the trade union movement generally, to facilitate the orderly conduct of bargaining and other aspects of industrial relations.
Officials in my Department have engaged with HSE management to explore ways forward to see if a resolution to the dispute can be progressed. These discussions have taken place, but an appropriate solution has yet to emerge. On that basis, the fact remains that the PNA does not have negotiating rights for ambulance grades and hence the HSE cannot negotiate with them in respect of this group.
