SIPTU is to ballot its 1,200 emergency ambulance personnel for industrial action after the HSE awarded contracts to three companies for the provision of a private ambulance service.
According to the HSE, the new service will be used to transport non-emergency patients between hospitals and other health facilities.
Unions disagree, saying this is the start of the privatisation of the 999 ambulance service.
SIPTU says the HSE went behind the back of the union in awarding the contracts.
According to the union, a sub-committee made up of both union and HSE personnel was put in place last year to discuss the introduction of a private service.
However SIPTU National Industrial Secretary Matt Merrigan says the contracts were awarded on 27 December without an agreement being in place.
SIPTU is to ballot its members for industrial action following a general meeting of union representatives on 9 February next.
