GMB wants ambulance service upgraded to full emergency status
ByNews reporter
The GMB union is to seek an upgrade in the status of the Scottish Ambulance Service from an essential service to an emergency service like police and fire rescue.
Union negotiators made the request during talks with Scottish Ambulance Service management in Edinburgh on Monday.
The union also called for Scottish ministers to intervene in the dispute.
The meeting comes only days after GMB members rejected the latest offer over rest breaks by 77% to 23%.
Harry Donaldson, GMB Scottish secretary, said: ”GMB will now take this rejection into further talks to find a long-term solution to this issue of emergency cover.
”In these talks GMB will reiterate that GMB members consider that this issue is not about money. Rather it is about rest breaks and the status of the Scottish Ambulance Service.
”GMB remain committed to securing an upgrade in the status of the ambulance service in Scotland from an essential service to an emergency service like the police and fire services. GMB consider that is the only long-term way to protect the Scottish public and offer them the emergency service that they require and rightly expect.”
GMB wants ambulance service upgraded to full emergency status