Frustrated ambulance staff set to start bans | Bay of Plenty News | Local News in Bay of Plenty

St John ambulance staff in the Western Bay will take industrial action from 7  tonight if their concerns over pay rates, leave and timely meal and rest breaks are not addressed during mediation with the organisation today.

The talks in Auckland will be held between the National Distribution Union,  which represents the majority of St John staff in the Western Bay, and St John.

NDU ambulance sector co-ordinator Craig Page said after eight months of negotiations, frustration had driven members to take low-level industrial action.

The action will involve members not billing patients for using ambulances or filling out the ACC forms that enable St John to claim payment for their service.

There will also be a ban on ambulance staff working at events on their rostered days off, something Mr Page said currently occurred.

One of the frustrations was the difference in conditions between each of the five geographical regions of St John, Mr Page said.

He said in the Northland region staff who had been working more than seven years received an additional week's leave while in other regions, including Midland which takes in the Western Bay, this was not the case.

In the larger centres, particularly Hamilton, Auckland and Wellington, Mr Page said some of members were working seven or eight hours without a meal break.

Read more in today's Bay of Plenty Times