A date has been set for ambulance workers in West Lothian to go on strike.
GMB Scotland confirmed its members will take action from 6am on November 28 until 07.59am the following day.
And on Friday Unite announced around 1,500 SAS staff, including paramedics, will take industrial action on November 25.
Its Scottish Ambulance Service workers will take continuous action short of strike from 00.01am. The action will include an overtime ban and work to rule.
GMB Scotland organiser Karen Leonard said: “Staff in the Scottish Ambulance Service have worked throughout the depths of the pandemic on the frontline of our public services, all the while dealing with an understaffing crisis and now a cost of living crisis this winter.
“These strikes are a direct response to the Scottish government who have failed to give key, frontline workers the pay rise that they deserve and who have overseen years of managed decline in the health services that so many rely on.”
Sharon Graham Unite general secretary, added: “Unite is determined to encourage the Scottish Government to return to the negotiating table. The action short of strike we have announced is designed to prevent all out strike action but make no mistake about this, if there is no new improved offer then this is exactly what will happen and the Scottish Government will be to blame. We will always stand up for our brave NHS workers and fight for better jobs, terms and conditions.”
The SAS workers involved in the action short of strike will include advanced practitioners, paramedics, planners, administrative, clerical, real time analysts, and business intelligence. The measures taken are designed to in no way impact on responses to emergency incidents.
Unite has further confirmed that it is actively considering coordinated strike action with the other NHS trade unions if this initial action does not bring the Health Secretary, Humza Yousaf MSP, back to the negotiating table with an improved offer.
NHS members on 4 November formally rejected the latest pay offer made by NHS Scotland by 74 per cent, and also voted for industrial action in a number of regional and national health boards. RPI is currently standing at a 40 year high of 12.6 per cent.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf has insisted there is no more money for NHS pay despite looming strikes.
He also said the threshold for military assistance to the ambulance service is “extremely high” due to pressures on the Army.
Don't miss the latest news from the West Lothian Courier. Sign up to our free newsletter here
