By Local ambulance service to take strike action
Ambulance staff across the majority of England and Wales will take strike action during the Christmas period amid ‘lengthy waits’.
Ambulance staff will go on strike on 21 & 28 December in a dispute over pay.
The action involves three main ambulance unions – Unison, GMB, and Unite, which will reportedly affect ‘non-life threatening calls only’.
The action involves paramedics as well as control room staff and support workers, and the military is on standby to help out. The East of England will remain completely unaffected.
Last month the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives warned patients were dying because of the ‘crippling delays’ ambulance crews faced at A&E.
Unison head of health Sara Gorton said: “The government will only have itself to blame if there are strikes in the NHS before Christmas.
“Ambulance staff and their health colleagues don’t want to inconvenience anyone. But ministers are refusing to do the one thing that could prevent disruption – that’s start genuine talks about pay.
“Wages are too low to stop health workers from quitting the NHS. As more and more hand in their notice, there is fewer staff left to care for patients. The public knows that’s the reason behind lengthy waits.”
All the unions have asked for above-inflation pay rises, however, governments in England and Wales have given NHS staff an average rise of 4.75%, with staff guaranteed a minimum of £1,400.
The Trust said ‘numerous conversations taking place nationally, regionally, and locally, meaning the situation will develop over the coming days and week, and therefore the following detail is subject to change.’
The national Trade Union ballot results have now been confirmed by all four unions – Royal College of Nursing (RCN), GMB, Unison, and Unite unions.
GMB at EMAS received enough votes to have a mandate to strike and take action short of a strike. Strike action is planned to take place on Wednesday, 21 December from 06.00 hours to 06.00 hours on Thursday, 22 December; and Wednesday, 28 December 2022, from 06.00 hours to 06.00 hours on Thursday, 29 December 2022.
Nationally, NHS England, NHS Employers, and the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) continue to hold talks with Trade Unions.
‘At EMAS we respect the right of our staff and members of the trade unions to take industrial action peacefully and when there is a lawful mandate to do so.’ NHS Trust said.
Members of GMB at EMAS received enough votes to have the mandate to strike and take action short of a strike, and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has confirmed that no ambulance service will be directly involved in strike action on 15 and 20 December 2022.
‘We are committed to keeping our staff, volunteers, stakeholders, and the public updated as this situation progresses, so please look out for further information on our website.’ they added.
