A war of words between a union leader and Yorkshire ambulance chiefs has continued after both accused each other of refusing to meet.

Following strike action by members of Unite union on Monday, Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) HR chief, Ian Brandwood, put out a statement that Unite’s regional organiser, Terry Cunliffe, had “declined to attend meetings” to resolve the dispute.

But yesterday, Mr Cunliffe, provided the Examiner with emails showing he had liaised with conciliatory service ACAS as recently as last week, offering to meet with ambulance chiefs.

An email from ACAS to Mr Cunliffe reveals YAS management actually refused to meet with him while the threat of strike action remained on the table.

Yesterday, in a clarification, YAS said it was referring to earlier offers of talks in 2013 and in January this year.

A spokeswoman confirmed that it was the case that they were not willing to meet Mr Cunliffe until the threat of industrial action is lifted.

The row comes after Unite members walked out for the fourth time this month in a year long dispute about £46m cuts, which Unite says threaten patient safety.

The union was de-recognised by YAS 12 months ago amid hostile exchanges between the two parties – they have traded blows ever since.

Mr Cunliffe said: “David Whiting, the Trust’s Chief Executive, has refused to meet me during the entire twelve months of this dispute.

“Mr Brandwood’s statement to The Examiner is misleading and further demonstrates the Trust and its executives’ refusal to accept the facts in this dispute.”

Unite claims YAS’ cuts are causing paramedics to work excessive hours without their required breaks.

But in Monday’s press release, Mr Brandwood said it was clear that workers’ had a rest break windows in the middle of both ten and 12-hour-shifts.

But Mr Cunliffe yesterday said Mr Brandwood’s claims that break arrangements were not a problem was untrue.

An email seen by the Examiner from last Sunday, reveals a paramedic’s complaints about crews not getting meals in their “windows”.

And it also reveals a patient on a ‘Red 2’ call, the second most serious type of 999 call, was forced to wait for 40 minutes for a response.

Department of Health performance standards ask ambulance trusts to respond to 75% of Red 1 and Red 2 calls within eight minutes.

The email between two YAS employees says: “Red 2 call orig [sic] 15.39, we were mobile 16.00, arrived at 16.18, no RRV (rapid response vehicle).

“Patients are not getting the care they deserve...absolutely utterly disgraceful on top of the other concerns I have raised.

“This patient waited nearly 40 minutes as a red.”

Mr Cunliffe yesterday repeated Unite’s accusations.

He said: “Paramedics are not renowned for striking but they are at their wit’s end because they know the proposals impact on patient safety.

“The Trust proposals are unsafe for patients and staff.

“The proposals weaken further the standards of service that Examiner readers expect of an emergency service and Unite will not be bullied or silenced in our campaign to bring the facts to the public.

“Unite has called for an independent enquiry into the running of Yorkshire Ambulance Service in order to determine once and for all who is misleading the public.”

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