Ambulance workers are to vote on strike action in a dispute over pay. Their union says staff face a real terms cut in wages and claim the service is "crumbling".
A consultative ballot among members of the GMB union at Yorkshire Ambulance Service showed overwhelming support for a formal vote on whether take industrial action. The union said paramedics and ambulance workers are angry over the Government’s 4% pay award, which leaves them facing “yet another massive real terms pay cut”.
GMB official Deanne Ferguson said: “Ambulance staff should not be worrying about how they’ll heat their homes this winter or feed their families, whilst carrying out a crucial service across our communities. The service is crumbling, and it is having an impact on everyone – it is only surviving because of the amazing workers holding it together, through goodwill.
“GMB members have had enough, they are angry – and that’s why they want to move to a formal ballot for strike action. GMB will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our members as we fight for an above inflation pay rise for our NHS heroes.”
In July, it was revealed that patients with life-threatening conditions in the region were waiting an average of nine minutes and 30 seconds for an ambulance last month, missing the target of seven minutes. The NHS figures showed it took paramedics an average of 43 minutes to reach patients with category two emergencies, such as suspected heart attacks or strokes – far above the 18-minute target.
Dates for a formal strike ballot will be announced in the coming days.
