Posted: Wed 15th Feb 2023

Unite members in ambulance service reject Welsh Government pay offer

News and Info from Deeside, Flintshire, North Wales

Description of your image

Unite members in the Welsh Ambulance Service have overwhelmingly rejected the most recent pay offer made by the Welsh government. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

A 1.5 per cent non-consolidated rise and a 1.5 per cent consolidated one-off payment for 2022-2023, on top of the already imposed 4.5 per cent, had ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​been put on the table by ministers‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​following negotiations. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

But in a ballot of Unite members on the current offer, 92 per cent of the workforce rejected it on a massive 70 per cent turnout. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The union has now confirmed its members in the Welsh Ambulance Service are now set to strike on 20, 21 and 22 February. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Unite has called for further talks to resolve the dispute. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The Welsh government has a clear opportunity to stop the upcoming strikes. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Instead of the political posturing it has engaged in, now is the time to get round the table and improve the offer. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Unite members have spoken – the current offer is not acceptable. These workers are living hand-to-mouth. Act now before the strikes escalate further.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Unite’s lead NHS officer Richard Munn aded: “The Welsh government has promoted the importance of social partnership – the relationship between the unions, employers and government. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“This social partnership is now being put to the test and talks are needed to try to resolve the dispute.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​


Spotted something? Got a story? Send a Facebook Message | A direct message on Twitter | Email: News@Deeside.com

Latest News

  • Urgent mental health support now available 24/7 in North Wales through NHS 111
  • RNLI launches Mayday Mile campaign in Wales after figure show increased demand in 2022
  • NEU Cymru teacher members vote to accept Welsh Government pay offer

  • More...

    Urgent mental health support now available 24/7 in North Wales through NHS 111

    News

    RNLI launches Mayday Mile campaign in Wales after figure show increased demand in 2022

    News

    NEU Cymru teacher members vote to accept Welsh Government pay offer

    News

    Majority of UK drivers oppose changing annual MOT, AA Survey Shows

    News

    RSPCA launches Big Help Out recruitment drive for ‘Wildlife Friends’ in North Wales

    News

    Deeside politician leads Senedd debate recognising ‘national scandal’ of prepay meters

    News