North: Ambulance crews consider strike
Northern Ireland ambulance staff were meeting later today to consider strike action after the latest in a series of vicious attacks on crews.
Two paramedics needed medical treatment at the weekend after a brick was thrown through the window of their vehicle in north Belfast.
Senior paramedic Paddy McGlinchey said the assaults were becoming increasingly vicious.
‘‘Virtually every call on a Friday or Saturday night which is drink-related ends in some type of verbal or physical assault,’’ he said.
While staff did not want to take the ultimate sanction of strike action, they felt that the situation had spiralled out of control.
‘‘There is a lot of anger, a lot of ill-feeling in the ambulance service at the minute and I think the latest incident has just led us to say enough is enough.’’
He predicted that ambulance staff would opt for some form of action to highlight their problem.
‘‘We can’t see any action that wouldn’t affect the public and that’s the last thing we want to do. However we expect to be treated with dignity.’’
Lily Kerr, regional officer of health union Unison, said they would support whatever action staff decided to take.
‘‘If there is strike action by ambulance staff it will be as a desperate measure.
‘‘Ambulance crews are saying they are not going to go through another year of sheer hell.’’
Attacks on public service employees in the North have been rising rapidly in recent months.
Management at transport company Translink last night warned of the horrific consequences after a train driver was injured when a brick was thrown through the window of his cab on the line between Belfast and Bangor, Co Down.
The driver was taken to hospital in Belfast suffering from extensive cuts to his face after the incident outside Holywood at Marino Halt.
A spokesman for Translink condemned the attack as deplorable.
Ciaran Rogan said despite his injuries the driver had managed to bring his train to a halt without injury to passengers.
He added: ‘‘The job the drivers do is difficult enough at the best of times but the potential consequences are pretty horrific.’’
Last month, bus drivers in Belfast held a two-day unofficial strike in protest at the increasing number of violent attacks.
The strike ended when Translink bosses agreed to review financial support for staff who had been assaulted.
