Ambulance workers walked out Monday in the biggest show of industrial action by first responders since trade unions kicked off an historic series of protests against pay levels in Britain’s National Health Service.
(Bloomberg) — Ambulance workers walked out Monday in the biggest show of industrial action by first responders since trade unions kicked off an historic series of protests against pay levels in Britain’s National Health Service.
Workers from Unison, Unite and the GMB labor groups are on strike again with the public advised to only call the 999 emergency number if there’s a life-threatening situation. It’s the first time ambulance workers from all three unions have walked out on the same day. As many as 15,000 Unison ambulance workers will strike, along with 5,000 NHS colleagues in Liverpool, the union said.
“There’s been literally no meeting about the substantive issue of pay,” said Sharon Graham, general secretary of the Unite union. “They are dancing around their handbags.”
Graham told the BBC that workers were seeking a raise “around the ballpark of 10%.”
Future strikes could be extended to cover more of the country, according to Helga Pile from Unison. Speaking from a picket line, she said that regions in which ambulance workers failed to reach the 50% turnout threshold were being re-balloted.
“If it broadens out in that way, it’ll create more disruption,” Pile said, adding that she thought the Treasury was refusing to provide more money to lift salaries.
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said in a statement Sunday that it is “hugely disappointing some ambulance workers are continuing to take industrial action.”
“I have had constructive talks with unions about this coming year’s pay process for 2023/24, and am keen to continue talking about what is affordable and fair,” Barclay said.
Unions representing NHS workers accuse the government of imposing years of real-terms pay cuts, resulting in mass vacancies that endanger patients. Ministers point to extra money earmarked for health services and say this year’s pay rise was determined by an independent review body.
The government has been accused by the unions of “demonizing” emergency workers, with Rachel Harrison, National Secretary at the GMB Union, saying this was another reason for the escalation of action. Ministers have proposed a law imposing minimum service levels during strikes in essential areas such as health care. However, Harrison said ambulance delays were actually lower on strike days.
Still, Britons were advised to be cautious over the weekend and into Monday to avoid putting unnecessary pressure on the health system. “It’s really important that people stay warm and look after themselves, have their medications, and seek medical help if they need it without ignoring their symptoms,” said John Martin, chief paramedic at the London Ambulance Service. The UK has endured freezing temperatures in recent days.
Sara Gorton from the Unison labor group said on the BBC that the most urgent category of calls would be answered, while category two calls would be judged on whether there’s likely to be “a risk to life and limb.”
–With assistance from Kitty Donaldson.
(Updates with comments from the picket line in fifth and sixth paragraphs.)
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