More than 1,500 north west ambulance workers to strike around Christmas

More than 1,500 ambulance workers will walk out across the north west on 21 and 28 December in a dispute over pay.

Paramedics, emergency care assistants, call handlers and other staff will from 12.01am to 11.59pm each day.

Workers across the ambulance services and some NHS Trusts have voted to strike over the government’s imposed 4 per cent pay award, which the GMB Union says is “another massive real terms pay cut.”  

GMB representatives will now meet with NWAS to discuss requirements for life and limb cover. 

Rachel Harrison, GMB National Secretary, said: “Ambulance workers – like other NHS workers – are on their knees. 

“Demoralised and downtrodden, they’ve faced twelve years of Conservative cuts to the service and their pay packets, fought on the frontline of a global pandemic and now face the worst cost of living crisis in a generation.  

“No one in the NHS takes strike action lightly – today shows just how desperate they are. 

“This is as much about unsafe staffing levels and patient safety as it is about pay. A third of GMB ambulance workers think delays they’ve been involved with have led to the death of a patient.  

“Something has to change or the service as we know it will collapse. 

“GMB calls on the Government to avoid a Winter of NHS strikes by negotiating a pay award that these workers deserve.” 

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “NHS workers do an incredible job caring for our loved ones and it is disappointing some will be taking industrial action, ahead of a challenging winter.

“The economic circumstances mean unions’ demands are not affordable - each additional 1% pay rise for all staff on the Agenda for Change contract would cost around £700 million a year.

“We’ve prioritised the NHS with record funding and accepted the independent pay review body’s recommendations to give over one million NHS workers a pay rise of at least £1,400 this year, with those on the lowest salaries receiving an increase of up to 9.3%.

“This is on top of the 3% award last year when wider public sector pay was frozen and on top of the wider government support to help with the cost of living.

“Our priority is to ensure emergency services continue to operate for those who need it and limit disruption, particularly at a time when NHS services are under huge pressure due to the impact of Covid.

“People should continue to use NHS 111 online for urgent healthcare advice and call 999 if it is a life-threatening emergency.”

Patients should continue to call 999 as normal if it is an emergency - when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk. Ambulances will still be able to respond to 999 calls. 

Patients who do not have life-threatening conditions, should continue to use NHS 111 services for help and advice on their condition and the most appropriate local health care service.

If you have an appointment, please turn up unless told not to.