Welsh Ambulance strike set for Thursday as workers protest over pay offer

Over 1,000 members of the Welsh Ambulance Service will begin their first of two 24-hour strikes on Thursday, January 19th, as workers protest a pay offer that is well below inflation.

Unite union members voted by a margin of 88% to strike over the pay offer, which they say has escalated the staffing crisis engulfing the Welsh NHS.

Workers will join 23 picket lines across Wales “as they fight to prevent the collapse of the Welsh NHS.” Unite has said.

The strikes come at a critical time for the NHS, which is already struggling with staff shortages and budget cuts.

The industrial action will likely cause disruptions in ambulance service and the public is being urged to use emergency services only in case of genuine emergencies.

The union has agreed to emergency “life and limb” cover provisions.

Health Minister Eluned Morgan met with health union representatives last week in a bid to curb further industrial action and to address workers’ concerns. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​​​‌‌​‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​​‌‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​​‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​​​‍‌​​​‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌‌‌​​‍‌​​‌​​​​‍‌​​‌​​‌​ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Welsh Government’s offer of a one-off payment for NHS staff “falls far short of what our members need” unions said. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌

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.”

She said: “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”. Sharon Graham added.

Unite Wales regional officer Richard Munn said: “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.”

He said: “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”. Richard Munn added.

Another strike by Welsh Ambulance Service workers who are members of Unite is scheduled to take place on January 23.