Over 1,000 ambulance workers, who are members of the Unite union, are set to go on strike. The first day of their two 24-hour strike will take place on Thursday, January 19, and then their second day will be on Monday, January 23.
The union has confirmed that ambulance workers will join 23 picket lines across Wales in what they say is "their fight to prevent the Welsh NHS from collapse". It comes after hundreds of Welsh ambulance workers, who are members of the GMB Union, announced their plan to strike for four new dates.
On Wednesday, the union confirmed that around 1,500 of its members in Wales would take industrial action over pay and working conditions on Monday, February 6, Monday, February 20, Monday, March 6, and Monday, March 20. You can read more about the GMB union's industrial action here.
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According to Unite, members voted by a margin of 88% to strike over the inflation pay that was offered. On Thursday, January 12, negotiations took place between nine health and nursing unions, including GMB union and Unite, with the Health Minister Eluned Morgan to try to avoid further NHS strikes in Wales. But unions said that a one-off payment would not be "sufficient to address the real problems with pay".
Ahead of Thursday's strike, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Unite stands 100 percent behind our Welsh Ambulance members who are striking to save our NHS. These workers are on the NHS frontline every day, saving lives and doing everything they can to protect the public.
"Unfortunately the NHS staffing crisis is making their job increasingly difficult, they see first-hand how our NHS is collapsing. A decent consolidated pay increase is the only way to improve NHS recruitment and relieve the crippling pressure on our ambulance services. The recent proposal from Welsh Government of a one off payment simply does not cut it with our members.
"Although the roots of this dispute may lie in Westminster, the only way of stopping further strikes is for Welsh Government to put a cost of living salary increase on the table".
Unite Wales regional officer Richard Munn added: "Ambulance workers across Wales have had enough. They are not willing to sit back and see the vital lifesaving service that they provide continue to be driven into the ground.
"The stress on our members builds every day. Another below inflation pay rise is the final straw. Devaluing pay every year whilst the ambulance service staff are faced with more and more pressure has resulted in the current strike action. This strike is overwhelmingly the will of our members and we need the Welsh and UK Governments to take this incredibly seriously.
"We accept that Welsh Government have a desire to resolve this dispute but their current proposals are clearly not enough to end this dispute".
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