Not About Money
I've written a few articles about the ambulance service 'rest breaks' dispute recently - here's a previous post from 25 September 2011.
The trade unions have been telling us all for months that the dispute was not about money - yet last night news came through that a settlement has been reached.
And do you know what broke the deadlock - money - a measly £50.
The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) has made an improved offer which doubles - from £50 to £100 - the payment made to ambulance workers for interrupting their rest breaks - and responding to emergency 999 calls.
So if an extra £50 on the table has brokered a settlement - how can anyone say that the dispute was not about money in the first place?
I think we should be told - but so far the SAS has failed to provide the public with any answers - though a statement will be made later today in the Scottish Parliament.
Money, Money, Money
Two more trade unions - Unison and Unite - have joined the GMB in rejecting a new pay deal - that would require Scottish ambulance crews to respond to emegency 999 calls - during their rest breaks.
The unions all say that the dispute is not about pay - and all three unions recommended acceptance of the new pay deal - by their members.
But the GMB, Unison and Unite were all rebuffed - which speaks volumes about the leadership of the trade unions - unless something else is going on behind the scenes.
If the dispute is not about money - then what is the real sticking point?
Because two people - two fellow Scots - have died recently while waiting for an ambulance in circumstances which may have turned out differently - if the nearest crew had not insisted on taking an 'uninterrupted' rest break.
Some do and some don't - but what's the big deal?
The public aren't stupid - but both the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) and the trade unions are treating the public like idiots.
All three unions have voted down a second pay deal that offered personnel £4.80 a week extra to be available during breaks - with an additional payment of £50 for each occasion they are called out during that time.
To my mind the present situation is a disgrace.
The management of the SAS appear weak and confused - while the unions insist that money isn't the issue - but won't say what is.
What a way to run an emergency service.
The trade unions have been telling us all for months that the dispute was not about money - yet last night news came through that a settlement has been reached.
And do you know what broke the deadlock - money - a measly £50.
The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) has made an improved offer which doubles - from £50 to £100 - the payment made to ambulance workers for interrupting their rest breaks - and responding to emergency 999 calls.
So if an extra £50 on the table has brokered a settlement - how can anyone say that the dispute was not about money in the first place?
I think we should be told - but so far the SAS has failed to provide the public with any answers - though a statement will be made later today in the Scottish Parliament.
Money, Money, Money
Two more trade unions - Unison and Unite - have joined the GMB in rejecting a new pay deal - that would require Scottish ambulance crews to respond to emegency 999 calls - during their rest breaks.
The unions all say that the dispute is not about pay - and all three unions recommended acceptance of the new pay deal - by their members.
But the GMB, Unison and Unite were all rebuffed - which speaks volumes about the leadership of the trade unions - unless something else is going on behind the scenes.
If the dispute is not about money - then what is the real sticking point?
Because two people - two fellow Scots - have died recently while waiting for an ambulance in circumstances which may have turned out differently - if the nearest crew had not insisted on taking an 'uninterrupted' rest break.
Some do and some don't - but what's the big deal?
The public aren't stupid - but both the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) and the trade unions are treating the public like idiots.
All three unions have voted down a second pay deal that offered personnel £4.80 a week extra to be available during breaks - with an additional payment of £50 for each occasion they are called out during that time.
To my mind the present situation is a disgrace.
The management of the SAS appear weak and confused - while the unions insist that money isn't the issue - but won't say what is.
What a way to run an emergency service.
