National ambulance strikes have been suspended after the government has agreed to discuss pay.
The Unison and GMB unions announced on Friday, March 3, nationwide ambulance strikes planned for March 6 and 8 have been suspended. The news came after the Department of Health and Social Care agreed to discuss pay for this year and next year.
The GMB union said there had been a "huge shift" in the government's position over pay.
READ MORE: Chaos at Best-one shop as bags of sugar and cans thrown in fight
Rachel Harrison, GMB National Secretary, said: "GMB ambulance workers announced a tightening of the derogations for cover on strike days. "Less than 24 hours later we received a letter from the Secretary of State for Health, Steve Barclay, inviting us and other unions to pay talks.
"This is a huge shift from the government, who for months have refused to consider negotiations on pay.
"Now, they are saying they are willing to sit down and talk."
Unison's Sara Gorton, as it was announced that unions have suspended planned strike action by ambulance workers to enter talks with the Government, said that strike action would resume if discussions were not "meaningful".
She said: "Unions said all along they could pause strikes if ministers would only commit to formal talks to boost pay for this year. The Government has finally promised extra investment in pay for both this and next year.
"The sad thing is this could all have been handled so differently. Proper pay talks should have started months ago, long before the first strike was called. That would have avoided days of disruption for the NHS and its patients.
"Whether the talks signal the beginning of the end of the current dispute will emerge in the coming days. If a deal can be reached, strikes can end and everyone can work together again to ensure the NHS gets back on track.
"However, when we get in the room, we'll quickly learn whether the talks can be meaningful. If not, Unison will be forced to resume strike action. Nobody wants that."
We'll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story.
For the latest news and breaking news visit liverpoolecho.co.uk/news
Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you by signing up to our daily and breaking newsletter. Sign up to our breaking news newsletter here.
Follow us on Twitter @LivECHONews - the official Liverpool ECHO Twitter account - real news in real time.
We're also on Facebook/theliverpoolecho - your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Liverpool ECHO.
READ NEXT
Man's teeth 'felt like jelly babies' after 'horrific' dental treatment
Activists who targeted S*n printing facility thank people of Liverpool
Man split second away from being hit by Avanti train in 'one of closest near misses ever'
M&S shoppers in disbelief over 'random' new £4.50 bacon sandwich
