Emergency 999 operators, including a staff of 20 in Navan, have voted to take industrial over pay and union recognition.

The Communications Workers Union (CWU) says the staff are seeking a living wage of €11.50 an hour, union recognition as well as changes to other terms and conditions of employment.

The contract to operate the Emergency Call Answering Service (ECAS) is held by BT Ireland, which outsourced it to Conduit Global.

The workers will hold a 12-hour work stoppage within the next few weeks, the date has not yet to be revealed, but it is expected to take place before the election.

The CWU confirmed that 84 per cent of its members at ECAS backed industrial action in their dispute over pay and union recognition.

Both companies have refused to negotiate with the CWU, but have been holding intensive meetings with staff at the three Irish sites since the ballot was announced.

The CWU has claimed that management only started to engage with staff following negative publicity surrounding its restrictions on toilet breaks revealed last week.

A spokesperson for Conduit Global said the company was very disappointed with the decision.

“Our senior management team opened direct dialogue with our staff and is making significant progress on all issues raised. To date, Conduit Global, in consultation with our staff, has reviewed internal policies, analysed staff feedback and committed to change. We’ve also proposed an interim change to the on-call policy seeking input and feedback from staff and can confirm that staff, when all aspects of the remuneration are considered, earn in excess of the living wage being sought by the CWU.

“It seems, therefore, that the CWU is seeking to disrupt this critical, public service in an attempt to get Collective Bargaining recognition, which we find very disappointing and self-serving. Conduit Global remains committed to deliver this vital public service and will continue to work with our staff directly to avoid any unnecessary disruption to the Emergency Call Answering Service,” she said.