Ambulance workers are holding their fifth day of strike action over union rights and representation today.

Some 500 members of the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) will down tools from 7am to 5pm.

Workers are calling for the HSE to recognise their right to be represented by the PNA – which established its ambulance branch in 2010.

The Union has said the HSE has failed to respond to three invitations to talks on the dispute from the Workplace Relations Commission.

Ambulance personnel members of @PNA_IRL @nasra_sallins will hold a fifth day of strike nationally tomorrow,(Tues) in their continuing campaign for their right to join, and be represented by the PNA as the union of their choice. The strike action will run from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

— PNA (@PNA_IRL) April 1, 2019

PNA General Secretary Peter Hughes said the action aims to send a clear message to the HSE that they will fight for their right to join and be represented by the union of their choice.

He said the HSE can avoid the industrial action if it drops its “unprecedented opposition to allowing 500 ambulance personnel to be represented by PNA - a trade union with  over 40 years' experience in representing workers within the health and social care services.”

“It is time for the HSE to respond to three separate WRC invitations to attend talks to resolve this dispute through industrial relations procedures and not through confrontation or legal threats,” he said.

Ambulance personnel protest outside Leinster House today, 27-03-2019. Image: Leah Farrell/Rollingnews

He said the PNA ambulance branch already represents more frontline ambulance staff than at least two of the unions the HSE has agreed to recognise.

“It is inexplicable that the HSE is continuing to attempt to ignore and frustrate the wishes of these frontline staff to be members of the PNA,” he said.

The workers already held strike days on January 22nd, February 15th, 28th and March 1st.