On 31 January 2023, GMB ambulance workers from across England and Wales travelled to the Houses of Parliament to let MPs know why we’re taking strike action. GMB is striking in the following ambulance services:
East Midlands Ambulance
West Midlands Ambulance
North East Ambulance
Yorkshire Ambulance
North West Ambulance
South Central Ambulance
South East Coast Ambulance
South West Ambulance
Welsh Ambulance Service
GMB is also striking in the following NHS Trusts:
East Suffolk and North Essex
Liverpool Women’s
Mersey Care
NHS Blood and Transplant
To find out further details and the strike dates, please visit the link
https://www.gmb-las-branch.org.uk/gmb-strike-in-ambulance-services/
We told them about the big issues affecting work in the ambulance service, the problems with pay and terms and conditions, and why the Government must engage on pay with NHS workers.
Throughout the day, we met with over 55 MPs including the Minister responsible for NHS pay Will Quince MP, the Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting, and Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
We invited the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Steve Barclay, to meet with GMB ambulance members but, disappointingly given the importance of the current dispute, he didn’t accept.
Instead, we listened with interest as he was questioned by the Health and Social Care select committee on issues facing the NHS including the strikes.
He said that pay talks continue with health unions and that the PRB process is the route to follow – despite the government having missed the deadline to submit their own evidence into the pay review body process for 2023/24!
It is also revealing that we have not met the Secretary of State since the 9th January. It is not good enough.
GMB’s campaign for fair pay across the NHS and Ambulance Services will continue and further strike dates are planned where GMB has mandates to take action.
Full details can be accessed at the strike hub:Â Ambulance Service Strike Hub | GMB
Posted: 2nd February 2023