When i joined the LAS in 82 i was taken aside by a seniior officer and 'advised' not to mention the fact that i was an active St. John member, and that it would help my career if i was to cease this!. The first 'strike' was while i was in training school, and we were forced to work (altho untrained) from Bloomsbury station through the action. Trainees evidently cant strike! - St. Johns steered me in the right direction, it gave me the 'appetite' needed to do this work, yes i did leave, but i still have high regard for the voluntary sector. By the time of the big strike action of th late 80's I was working as a Private Ambulanceman based in the south east, we met with the local crews (a lot who worked P/T for us anyway) and we stuck to the 8 or so requirements that were issued by the LAS for turning out. We did not offer a 24 hr A&E service but we were required by law to deal with RTA's which we came across. There has always been a few, hopefully this is now receding, that have issues with St. Johns or the private services, this is mainly through not understanding what they actually do. Yes i agree there are 'cowboy' firms out there in the private sector, but not all are like that. Look for the staff on these that have the 'Miller Badge', then at least you know they are well trained, and normally still support the LAS or other services. or should i say more accurately they support the men & women who do the job. It's time now that this discrimination stopped, we all had the same aims whether voluntary, private or military, To save lives!