INDUSTRIAL action due to start today by Ambulance workers has been called off but could still take place next week.

Unison members were due to start working to rule at noon today over the long running row over changes to shift patterns.

But yesterday afternoon the union withdrew its original notice and said the action would start next Wednesday instead.

Great Western Ambulance Service chief executive David Whiting welcomed the decision and said that he hopes a resolution can be found.

He also pledged that the trust will use a further planned meeting with the union at the ACAS arbitration service in Bristol to try to settle outstanding issues.

Mr Whiting said: “The legal advice we obtained indicated there were concerns about the lack of detail provided by Unison in issuing us with notice of industrial action. Having raised this with Unison, I welcome their decision to withdraw their notice and postpone the industrial action that was due begin at midday on Thursday.

“I can also confirm that we have arranged to meet with Unison and will use the opportunity to discuss the package of proposals we presented to the union last week with a view to reaching an amicable agreement.

“We are keen to avoid industrial action and committed to finding an amicable alternative to Unison’s dispute, for the benefit of our staff and the patients we serve.“ Unison says that the dispute is not about pay but the health, safety and welfare of dedicated frontline ambulance crew, the impact on service delivery and effective patient care.

Unison balloted its 600 members, around 200 of whom are based in Swindon, on whether they wanted industrial action in protest at controversial shift changes introduced in November 2010.

The result of the ballot showed 96 per cent of staff who voted wanted industrial action.

The shift changes include different start times. In Wiltshire most 12 hour shifts were 7am to 7pm, or 7pm to 7am, but now start times range between 5am and 9am or 5pm to 9pm.

Staff also have to work more weekends, 75 per cent of weekends as opposed to 50 per cent.

Unison regional organiser Simon Newell said: “Rather than waste our members’ money on arguing this out in the courts, we have reissued our notice and will be taking action from next Wednesday rather than this Thursday. “The trust management’s refusal to negotiate seriously and to waste public money on hiring lawyers rather than sit down with us to resolve this dispute is indicative of their apparent contempt for meaningful negotiations. “They need to understand the clock is ticking and running off to lawyers to cry ‘foul’ only serves to strengthen our members’ resolve. “Rather than inflaming this dispute they need to put a meaningful solution on the table, or respond to the many solutions we ourselves have put forward.”