Ambulance workers in the north west are to stage two more days of walkouts next year as the bitter row over pay and conditions continues. Unison announced that members will strike again in January.
It comes just a day after the biggest ambulance service strike in 30 years hit England and Wales, with paramedics, call-handlers, technicians and other North West Ambulance Service staff among those going on strike.
Members of three unions - the GMB, Unite and Unison - were involved on Wednesday (December 21) which collectively represented around 25,000 ambulance service workers. GMB union members are to stage a further strike at nine trusts on December 28 following a vote to strike in a dispute over the Government's 4 per cent pay award.
READ MORE Military spotted in ambulances as paramedics go on strike in Greater Manchester
Unison members have now announced they are to stage two fresh strikes in the dispute over pay and staffing - on January 11 and 23. Five ambulance services will be affected, including London, Yorkshire, the North West, North East and South West.
Unison said the new strikes were a direct result of the government’s 'repeated refusal' to negotiate improvements to NHS pay this year. The January strikes will each be for 24 hours from midnight to midnight and involve all ambulance employees, not just the 999 response crews, as was the case on December 21.
Across Greater Manchester and the north west, there were repeated warnings of huge delays in A&E departments on Wednesday, with those not in 'life-threatening' conditions told they faced being unable to get an ambulance. Military personnel were drafted in to help drive ambulances and support paramedics.
Unison general secretary Christina McAnea said: “It’s only through talks that this dispute will end. No health workers want to go out on strike again in the new year. But accusing NHS staff of making a conscious decision to inflict harm on the public by taking action this week was not the health secretary’s finest hour.
“Neither was it a particularly smart move for Steve Barclay to falsely accuse health unions of failing to deliver a national emergency cover plan. The secretary of state knew full well life and limb cover arrangements were being agreed locally by ambulance managers and unions.
“It’s time Steve Barclay stopped with the insults and fibs and called the unions in for proper talks about improving NHS pay. Speeding up next year’s pay review body process won’t solve the current dispute, which is about the pitiful amount the government gave health workers this year.
“The Government must stop using the pay review body as cover for its own inaction. This year’s pay rise simply wasn’t enough to halt the exodus of staff from the NHS.
“The Government should right that wrong with an increase better matching inflation. Only then will vacancy rates reduce, allowing the NHS to get back on track and start delivering safe patient care once more.”
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