THOUSANDS of ambulance workers are to stage fresh strikes in the coming weeks in the bitter dispute over pay and staffing.
The GMB said more than 10,000 of its members, including paramedics, emergency care assistants, call handlers and other staff, will walk out on February 6 and 20, and March 6 and 20.
The Mega AgencyAmbulance workers demonstrate outside Waterloo Ambulance Station in December[/caption]
PAAmbulance workers demonstrate outside hospitals during last month’s strikes[/caption]
The Mega AgencyAmbulance workers on the picket line at Westminster Ambulance station in December[/caption]
In addition, workers at West Midlands ambulance service will strike on January 23 and GMB members at North West Ambulance Service will strike on January 24.
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.”
Saffron Cordery, NHS Providers’ interim chief executive, added: “Four more days of strikes by GMB ambulance staff will deal another blow to already overloaded health services. And now Unite is set to announce more ambulance strikes by its members.
“We understand the strength of feeling among NHS staff and nobody wants these strikes to happen.
“To stave off another wave of strikes and help the NHS, the Government must sit down with the unions urgently and address pay for the current financial year.
“Trusts plan and prepare for industrial action to support staff and do all they can to minimise the impact on patients and day-to-day business.
“But with incredibly high levels of A&E attendances and delays discharging patients from hospital beds severely hampering overstretched ambulance services, things are likely only to get worse if these strikes go ahead.”
December’s walkouts involved more than 10,000 ambulance workers across nine trusts in England and Wales.
Nurses are striking again today and tomorrow with thousands more Brits set to miss vital appointments and operations.
Walkouts will last a total of 24 hours over two days at 55 NHS hospital trusts in England – up from 44 in December’s action.
The Royal College of Nursing called it a “modest escalation” but last night threatened a “sharp increase” in strikes in February.
Meanwhile, Doctors’ leaders will talk to Health Secretary Steve Barclay today over fears of a 72-hour March strike by junior docs.
Up to 4,200 physios will strike on January 26 and February 7 if they do not get a better deal.
Last night, it was announced 100,000 civil servants with the Public and Commercial Services union would strike on February 1.
They include staff from Border Force, the DVLA and Job Centres.