Ambulance services in Cork and Kerry are facing disruption following a decision by emergency medical technician (EMT) crews in Killarney to take industrial action.
SIPTU representatives are meeting Southern Health Board officials today for last-ditch efforts to avert a strike.
Ambulance crews in the town, one of the busiest stations in the health board area, are working 60 to 80 hours a week, according to Mr Donal Tobin of SIPTU. The same crews working during the day were on call at night as the town had no full-time 24-hour service.
Lives were being put at risk, he said, because crews were tired and overworked.
One extra crew - Killarney has three - has been promised by the health board but this crew will only be put in place if six days' holidays for accumulated time off are surrendered by the ambulance staff, Mr Tobin said.
The EMTs voted to take industrial action last week after 12 months of negotiations proved fruitless.
Should talks break down today, shop stewards throughout Cork and Kerry are to be contacted with a view to taking industrial action, and due notice will be served on the board.
Industrial action would begin in a fortnight, Mr Tobin said.
A statement from the health board said it hoped an agreement can be reached with SIPTU for a greater period of duty cover and a reduction in the level of on-call services at the Killarney station. A new ambulance has been purchased and extra staff recruited.