Ambulance workers are set to begin work to rule action from 0001 GMT on Wednesday.

The Transport and General Workers Union (T&G) insist they will take immediate action if a new agreement on working conditions cannot be reached.

T&G officials will meet with their counterparts from the public service workers union UNISON and representatives from the NHS Trust management on Monday.

Suspended action

The unions are demanding an improved pay deal for ambulance workers including double pay on bank holidays.

They are also seeking a standardisation of overtime and the provision of breaks for paramedics.

The dispute over terms and conditions started on 27 March this year.

Ambulance workers suspended their original industrial action, which was due to have started on Sunday, in the hope that a last-minute agreement can be reached.

ACAS talks

Phil Bown, regional industrial organiser for the T&G, said he was angry the dispute had reached this stage.

"We started this back in March and if the Trust had got themselves ready the situation would have been resolved by now," he said.

"Hopefully agreement can be reached on something tangible and immediate to alleviate the problems faced by our members."

Steve Griffin, speaking on behalf of West Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service, said: "We are pleased that the unions have decided to defer industrial action.

"We hope that the ACAS initiated talks can resolve the dispute and we can re-start negotiations with all of our trade unions."