More ambulance worker strikes

Six more strike dates have been announced by the ambulance service as the dispute over pay continues.

More than 1,500 GMB Union ambulance workers across the North West have announced five new strike dates whilst the Unite and Unison unions have announced one day of strike action.

Paramedics, emergency care assistants, call handlers and other staff will walk out on:

• Monday 23 January (Unite and Unison members)
• Tuesday 24 January (GMB members)
• Monday 6 February (GMB members)
• Monday 20 February (GMB members)
• Monday 6 March (GMB members)
• Monday 20 March (GMB members)

A spokesperson for Unite said: “Unite has reached agreements with the local ambulance trusts to ensure life and limb emergency cover.

“Unite has and will continue to ensure this life and limb cover is provided during the strike.

“Meanwhile, the government fails to provide minimum standards across the NHS on a daily basis.”

Rachel Harrison, GMB National Secretary, said: “GMB’s ambulance workers are angry. In their own words ‘they are done’.

"Our message to the government is clear - talk pay now.

“Ministers have made things worse by demonising the ambulance workers who provided life and limb cover on strike days - playing political games with their scaremongering.

“The only way to solve this dispute is a proper pay offer, but it seems the cold, dead hands of Number 10 and 11 Downing Street are stopping this from happening

“In the face of government inaction, we are left with no choice but industrial action.

“GMB ambulance workers are determined, they’re not going to back down.

“It’s up for this government to get serious on pay: we are waiting.”

A spokesperson for the North West Ambulance Service said: "Following the announcement of industrial action, we have worked closely with our unions and staff to ensure that we are able to continue to deliver a response to the most serious emergencies for our patients and to agree an approach for the days when industrial actions is taking place.

"This has focused on consideration to support colleagues’ right to take action in collaboration with potential impacts on patient care. The priority throughout has been balancing patient safety with the right to strike.

"On the day of action, despite utilising some resources from external sources, the trust will be operating with reduced capacity. As much as we can, we will prioritise those with life-threatening conditions but it is important to acknowledge that ambulance waits are to be expected. Those with less serious conditions are likely to be asked to seek alternatives.

"The assistance of the public is vital so for illness or injury which is not life-threatening, people should seek help and advice from their own GP, a pharmacist, or via NHS 111 Online at 111.nhs.uk or find other means of transport to an emergency care centre.

"Further information is available to the public here: www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/information-for-the-public-on-industrial-action/ and we will continue to publish further advice here."