Hato Hone St John reports that the ambulance drivers’ strikes on Saturday did not harm any patients. The 24-hour strike, involving members of FIRST Union and the Ambulance Association, ended at 4am on Sunday.
Dan Ohs, deputy chief executive of St John, said that people with non-urgent needs helped by finding their own transport or contacting their doctor or pharmacy. He assured RNZ that there were no negative incidents stemming from the strike.
Despite the challenges, Ohs thanked the staff for maintaining a safe service. The strike followed a similar one earlier in the week, marking the first strike by ambulance workers. About 300 staff participated in Tuesday’s strike, while around 250 were involved on Saturday.
Ambulance services are protected under a framework that ensures basic services during strikes. Unions have warned of potential further strikes unless the government provides more funding. Ohs stated that the next step is to return to negotiations with the unions.
St John will also seek more government funding in 2026 to cover costs instead of relying mainly on donations. Currently, about 83% of funding comes from taxpayers, with the rest from fundraising and commercial activities. Ohs expressed gratitude for past funding, but noted that running costs have risen due to inflation and greater demand. The focus remains on getting ambulance staff back to work and achieving full operational funding.
