Ambulance workers in the north and north-east have moved a step closer to striking after nearly three-quarters backed industrial action in a ballot.
A bitter dispute between the staff, including paramedics and technicians, and Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) bosses has been growing on working hours.
Yesterday Unite the union announced that just under 75% of those working in the north division have given the union a mandate to move towards a legal industrial ballot, if required.
The announcement came after talks in Aberdeen over the issue of shift lengths between Unite and the SAS failed to reach a resolution.
A further meeting is to take place next month.
While shifts should last for 12 hours, the union claimed one Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) employee in the region had worked three times this, while another had been on shift for 23 hours.
Papers were then sent out to around 230 workers in the north division, which includes Grampian and the Highlands and islands, in a consultative ballot.
It is understood the 23-hour continuous shift had been undertaken by a crew based in Lairg in the Highlands, while the 36-hour shift was worked in Tomintoul in Moray.
A source added that there were around 20 vacancies in the north.
Changes to the way paramedics work were introduced following the outrage triggered by the death of 33-year-old Mandy Mathieson, who suffered a cardiac arrest at her home at Tomintoul in 2010.
The village depot is just 800 yards away but due to difficulties nobody was able to respond.
Tommy Campbell, Unite regional industrial officer, said: “The resolution of our members working in Highland and islands and Grampian as demonstrated in the consultative ballot result is rock-solid.
“Both parties will meet again in a month’s time but if there is no progress, based on the mandate we have been given, all options are now on the table.”
SAS’s north regional director Milne Weir said: “We had a very productive meeting today regarding this issue and look forward to working in partnership with our union colleagues in the coming weeks and months so that we can continue to give patients the very best service.
“Staff wellbeing is one of our key priorities because we know they do a fantastic job day in, day out in communities across Scotland.”