North East Ambulance workers vote to strike

Almost 750 ambulance workers have voted to strike across the North East. 

Paramedics, Emergency Care Assistants, call handlers and other staff are now set to walk out in the region. 

More than 10,000 ambulance workers across the ambulance services and some NHS Trusts nationally have voted to strike over the Government’s imposed 4 per cent pay award, which the Union describes as another massive real terms pay cut.  

Rachel Harrison, GMB National Secretary, said: “Ambulance workers – like other NHS workers – are on their knees. 

“Demoralised and downtrodden, they’ve faced twelve years Conservative cuts to the service and their pay packets, fought on the frontline of a global pandemic and now face the worst cost of living crisis in a generation.  

“No one in the NHS takes strike action lightly – today shows just how desperate they are. 

“This is as much about unsafe staffing levels and patient safety as it is about pay. A third of GMB ambulance workers think delays they’ve been involved with have led to the death of a patient.  

“Something has to change or the service as we know it will collapse. 

“GMB calls on the Government to avoid a Winter of NHS strikes by negotiating a pay award that these workers deserve.” 

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “I’m hugely grateful for the hard work and dedication of NHS staff and deeply regret some will be taking industrial action – which is in nobody’s best interests as we approach a challenging winter.

“Our economic circumstances mean unions’ demands are not affordable - each additional 1% pay rise for all staff on the Agenda for Change contract would cost around £700 million a year.

“We’ve prioritised the NHS with record funding and accepted the independent pay review body recommendations in full to give over one million NHS workers a pay rise of at least £1,400 this year, with those on the lowest salaries receiving an increase of up to 9.3%.

“This is on top of 3% last year when public sector pay was frozen and wider government support with the cost of living.”

“Our priority is keeping patients safe during any strikes and the NHS has tried and tested plans to minimise disruption and ensure emergency services continue to operate.

“My door remains open to discuss with the unions ways we can make the NHS a better place to work.”

GMB union say they will now meet with reps in the coming days to discuss potential strike dates before Christmas.