Ambulance workers to stage 10 MORE strikes over staffing and pay
A SERIES of fresh strikes by ambulance workers has been announced in an escalation of the bitter dispute over pay and staffing.
Unite said its members across England, Wales and Northern Ireland will stage 10 further walkouts over the coming weeks, warning that additional dates could be announced soon.
Thousands of nurses from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) were already scheduled to strike on February 6 and 7, and the GMB union announced earlier this week that its ambulance workers would join them on February 6.
This morning, Unite said workers from five ambulance trusts in England and Wales would also join the strike on February 6.
The union's ambulance workers are already set to strike next Monday as the row with the government remains deadlocked.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said of the new announcement: "Rather than act to protect the NHS and negotiate an end to the dispute, the Government has disgracefully chosen to demonise ambulance workers."
The newly-announced strike action will involve Unite's members in the North West, North East, East Midlands, West Midlands, Wales and Northern Ireland.
It will take place across several dates from January 26 to March 20.
Unite said that as with previous strikes, its representatives will be working at regional level to agree derogations to ensure that emergency life and limb cover will be in place during the action.
Other exemptions will ensure that patients needing lifesaving treatment, such as renal care and cancer treatment, will be transported to their appointments, it added.
Most read in The Sun
Unite official Onay Kasab said: "The resolution to this dispute is in the government's hands.
"This dispute will only be resolved when it enters into proper negotiations about the current pay dispute."
Asked about the comments on Thursday, Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said the Government must balance pay demands with "recognising we also have to be careful stewards of public money overall".
The walkouts come amid a wave of industrial action across various UK sectors.
Over the last few months, nurses, teachers, rail workers, train operations, civil servants, legal advisers and associates have all walked off the job or announced they plan to.
Speaking to broadcasters at a police station in London on Wednesday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said talks were "ongoing and we're keen to find a constructive way forward and bring these strikes to an end."
Both the RCN and GMB have asked for above-inflation rises.
The Government has given NHS staff an average of 4.75 per cent, with everyone guaranteed at least £1,400.
The latest Unite strike action
Unite's members, employed by different ambulance trusts, will strike on the following days:
• West Midlands: February 6 and 17, and March 6 and 20
• North East: February 6 and 20, and March 6 and 20
• East Midlands: February a6 and 20, March 6 and 20
• Wales: February 6 and 20, and March 6 and 20
• North West: February 6 and 22, and March 6 and 20
• Northern Ireland: January 26, and February 16, 17, 23 and 24