St John Ambulance staff have given notice of strike action effective from November first, but say they will continue to respond to call outs.

They said their action is not directed at patients, they are doing it for patient safety.

Union spokeswoman Lynette Blacklaws said funding has become an issue, with staff offered a one percent payrise while time and a half to cover extra work due to staff shortage is being clawed back.

"At the end of the day we've got very tired, fatigued ambulance professionals - so paramedics who are administering emergency care to people. I guess it just puts people at jeopardy. Both the ambos and the patients that they care for." 

"We think that they need to put more pressure on the government to stump up with more funding," she said.

"I guess what the outcome of the lack of funding is that our ambos are fatigued, they're working really long hours and have increased workload."