Ambulance union GMB announces FOUR more strike dates during February and March

NHS ambulance workers will return to the picket lines yet again, with four more strike dates announced today. 

Union GMB announced that some 10,000 of its members, including paramedics, and 999 call handlers will walk off the job on 6 February, 20 February, 6 March and 20 March.

The action will affect most ambulance services in England and also be held across Wales. 

It is the latest blow in the bitter dispute between NHS unions and the Government over  pay, with the Royal College of Nursing holding its own strike action today and tomorrow. 

Rachel Harrison, GMB national secretary, said: ‘GMB’s ambulance workers are angry. In their own words “they are done”.’

‘Our message to the Government is clear – talk pay now. Ministers have made things worse by demonising the ambulance workers who provided life and limb cover on strike days – playing political games with their scaremongering.

‘The only way to solve this dispute is a proper pay offer.’

‘But it seems the cold, dead hands of Number 10 and 11 Downing Street are stopping this from happening.’

She added that in the face of Government ‘inaction’ the union had been forced into industrial action 

‘GMB ambulance workers are determined, they’re not going to back down,’ she said. 

‘It’s up for this Government to get serious on pay. We are waiting.’

The full list of services for the February and March strike dates include South West Ambulance Service, South East Coast Ambulance Service, North West Ambulance Service, South Central Ambulance Service, North East Ambulance Service, East Midlands Ambulance Service, the Welsh Ambulance Service, and Yorkshire Ambulance Service. 

In addition, workers at West Midlands ambulance service will strike on January 23 and GMB members at North West Ambulance Service will strike on January 24.