Over 10,000 ambulance workers to strike in England and Wales

Following the government’s 4 per cent pay award, the NHS trusts have decided to take industrial action in what has been described as another “massive real-terms pay cut” by the GMB trade union.

Paramedics, emergency care assistants, call handlers, and other ambulance workers have vowed to strike on 21st and 28th December at the following trusts:

South West Ambulance Service
South East Coast Ambulance Service
North West Ambulance Service
South Central Ambulance Service
North East Ambulance Service
East Midlands Ambulance Service
West Midlands Ambulance Service
Welsh Ambulance Service
Yorkshire Ambulance Service

The 21st’s strike, which will run from midday to midnight, follows after a second walkout at the Royal College of Surgeons was staged, again disputing pay.

BREAKING 🚨: Ambulance workers will strike 21 + 28 December 🚑

— GMB Union (@GMB_union) December 6, 2022

There was mixed reaction to the news of the strike, with some showing their support for the workers, and others disputing the obvious risks involved in the reduced number of emergency response workers on call on each of the nights.

However, National Secretary of the GMB, Rachel Harrison, has stated that, "After twelve years of Conservative cuts to the service and their pay packets, NHS staff have had enough.”

“The last thing they want to do is take strike action, but the government has left them with no choice. The government could stop this strike in a heartbeat - but they need to wake up and start negotiating on pay," she added.

Unison’s strike on December 21st, will involve paramedics, emergency care assistants, ambulance technicians, porters, nurses, healthcare assistants, cleaners and other NHS workers at two Liverpool hospitals.

The union has also stated it will re-ballot approximately 13,000 NHS staff under 10 different trusts and ambulance services where turnout in the recent strike’s vote fell short of what is required by law.

The UK’s healthcare crisis draws significant comparisons to that of Ireland’s whose hospital waiting times, increased pressure on workers, and dispute over pay have only been aggravated by the recent pandemic.

It was only in May of this year that medical scientists took strike action against contracts and pay, some citing multiple 24-hour shifts weekly to cover staff shortages and sick leave.

Full details on the ambulance workers' upcoming strike can be found here.