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Ambulance drivers and Council budget

08 February 2010

Was horrified to read in the Argus today that ambulance drivers are given only a half hour, unpaid lunch break per 15 hour shift.

The argument is that when Sussex ambulance service merged with Kent and Surrey, each area kept its own system.

But to expect people doing such a vital job as ambulance drivers to work with little or no lunch break for incredibly long shifts is dangerous, as well as unfair.

They work in stressful emergency situations, and deserve fair treatment and regular breaks.

I hope the issue is sorted out soon - as it stands it is clearly unacceptable.

Another concern at the moment is the forthcoming vote on the Council budget on 25 February, where Greens are working with the Labour and LibDem councillors to try to prevent jobs cuts.

Green councillors have been fighting proposals such as closing a local day care centre, and cuts to home-to-school transport for children with special needs.

So far we've successfully persuaded the Tories to save respite care services for disabled children and their carers, and to stop deep cuts to bus services.

But it looks like it will need all 3 opposition parties working together again to unite against the bulk of the unfair proposals in the Conservative budget.

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