More than 15,000 ambulance workers to vote on strike

More than 15,000 ambulance workers will vote on strike actions as ballot dates have been revealed. The thousands of staff across 11 trusts in England and Wales will take part in the strike vote, including those from the North West Ambulance Service.

Thousands more NHS workers will also be balloted across other NHS trusts, with more votes set to follow, according to GMB Union. 'Cuts and shortages mean GMB members feel they are unable to deliver safe standards of patient care', says the union.

The ballot opens on October 24 and closes on November 29. That means any potential strike action could take place before Christmas.

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Ambulance workers from London, East of England, East and West Midlands, North East, Yorkshire, North West, South Central, South East Coast, South West and Wales Ambulance trusts will take part in the strike vote. The strike ballots follow consultative votes across all the trusts in which workers voted strongly in favour of strike action, the GMB Union has said.

Workers have shared frustration over the Government’s imposed 4 per cent pay award, which leaves them facing a real terms pay cut, the union added.

Ambulance workers from across the country will vote on industrial action (Manchester Evening News)

Rachel Harrison, GMB National Officer, said: “Ambulance workers have just had enough. They’ve not been on strike in decades, but they are at the end of what they can take.

“Pay has been systematically slashed for more than ten years and we now face the worst cost of living crush in a generation. Meanwhile vacancies are at record highs and we have the worst A&E delays ever - and it’s not even the winter flu season yet.

“But this is about more than pay and conditions. Cuts and shortages mean GMB members feel they are unable to deliver safe standards of patient care.

“Things can’t go on like this - something has to give.”

The Department of Health and Social Care has been contacted for response.

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