Unite members in ambulance service reject Welsh Government pay offer

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.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​