The GMB union has called off ambulance service strike action on December 28 due to the overwhelming support shown to workers on the picket lines on Wednesday (December 21).
Rachel Harrison, GMB National Secretary, said: “We are overwhelmed by amazing public support for our paramedics and ambulance staff on Wednesday.
“People across the country have been wonderful in backing us and we care so much about them too. That’s why we are suspending the proposed GMB industrial action on the 28th December.
“We know the public will appreciate being able to enjoy Christmas without any additional anxiety. They support us and we support them.
“The workforce crisis in our NHS is so severe and our commitment to getting ambulance staff the proper pay they deserve is stronger than ever, so we are scheduling a further date for action on 11th January 2023.
“The incredible British public are why we are suspending our action over the Christmas period. But, it also means the government can now do what ambulance workers and the public want – get round the table and talk pay now. We are here 24/7. Any time, any place.
“Over to you Steve Barclay. Everyone is waiting.”
In a statement the union added: ”The NHS is on its knees and the public are suffering every day because the government has failed to properly resource and plan for the health service.
“Nowhere is this clearer than in the appalling delays experienced in getting an ambulance and then getting into A&E.
“Solving such problems starts with getting enough people to work in the NHS. Unless the government starts to talk pay now the problems will get worse with every passing day.
“The consequences of the failure to protect the public are scary – one in three ambulance workers have seen a death due to delays and NHS England’s own figures confirm deaths after transfer delays have more than doubled in the last year.”
Hahahahaha!!!
“Overwhelming support”… so they go back to work!!!
I’m laughing so much my belly hurts!!
exactly
I will support any of the different industry striker’s. They seem to think that they are the only ones enduring the cost of living crisis.
Time to wake up folks and smell the coffee.
I will not support
You used to be indecisive, now you’re not so sure!
if i had an accident or an emergency and i had the choice between a paramedic or an MP i know which one i would choose
On Tuesday, you’d have had more chance of flagging down Roger Gale than getting an ambulance!
Me thinks gmb got this strike decision wrong ,the public will only support so much ,when people die,public opinion changes,very fast,no matter how good their claim, also if a government gives one body 19% pay rises everyone will want it,where will the money come from ,increased petrol/ diesel cigarettes,beer wine the list goes on,higher inflation ,more higher pay claims ,never ending circle
Love him or hate him, Rishi Sunak is a highly successful businessman who knows when and when not to negotiate. Seems like his plan of just ignoring strikers is starting to work.
‘When people die, the public will only support so much’ … but people ARE dying already because the ambulance service is so overstretched and unavailability of hospital beds causes delays in getting to the next call.
I dare say Rishi Sunak is a shrewd businessman, perhaps even a canny politician. He is also married to an incredibly wealthy woman. Another good move, for himself that is.
This is in fact a clever move on the part of the union. I would guesstimate that they do, on balance, have the support of the public and they have seized an opportunity to say Thanks by delaying the action.
Much government policy ensures that those who make vast sums of money from work done by others do will increase profits further. And the government itself has made the UK’s economic situation the worst in all of the developed countries. That toxic combination makes the likes of us poorer. And some of us – like ambulance staff – face the reality of that situation for patients again and again. So in addition to struggling with their own finances, their working life is becoming sadder and more stressful. The only action available to them is to withdraw their labour to press for a pay rise that will make their lives easier and attract more recruits.
That would still leave the ambulance service in deep doo doos. But it would be better than nothing.
Ha, ha!
Didn’t smell the coffee, fell asleep and missed the simple word *Not*.