Ambulance workers are the latest people to go on strike (Picture: Getty Images)
Paramedics are set to join those striking over the festive period today with the first of two walkouts amid a row over pay.
Thousands of 999 call handlers, ambulance technicians, paramedics and their colleagues working for ambulance services are joining an increasing list of striking workers, with nurses and train drivers also walking out in recent weeks and border patrol staff set to follow.
Although they will continue to cover life-threatening emergencies, other people in need of urgent care may face making their own way to A&E or calling for a taxi to take them to hospital during the strike.
But which services are on strike today, and what has led to the walkout?
Which ambulance services are on strike today?
Workers from the following ambulance services will join the strike:
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
West Midlands Ambulance Service
Welsh Ambulance Service
Yorkshire Ambulance Service
A second strike will be held on Wednesday December 28.
The walkout involves members from the unions GMB, Unison and Unite – with more than 10,000 workers striking.
Why are ambulance workers striking?
Ambulance workers are walking out in an ongoing row over pay and staffing levels.
Rachel Harrison, GMB national secretary, said: ‘After 12 years of Conservative cuts to the service and their pay packets, NHS staff have had enough. The last thing they want to do is take strike action but the government has left them with no choice.’
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‘Health Secretary Steve Barclay needs to listen and engage with us about pay. If he can’t talk to us about this most basic workforce issue, what on Earth is he Health Secretary for? The government could stop this strike in a heartbeat – but they need to wake up and start negotiating on pay.’
Unite says the action is a ‘stark warning’ to the government that it must stem the crisis engulfing the NHS following ministers’ ‘deliberate 12-year assault on pay.
Unison general secretary Christina McAnea said: ‘The decision to take action and lose a day’s pay is always a tough call. It’s especially challenging for those whose jobs involve caring and saving lives.
Nurses have also staged a strike with another one to come (Picture: SWNS)
‘But thousands of ambulance staff and their NHS colleagues know delays won’t lessen, nor waiting times reduce, until the government acts on wages. That’s why they’ve taken the difficult decision to strike.’
She added that, despite the strikes, patients will ‘always come first’ and emergency cover will be available.
MORE : New Year new strikes: All of UK’s rail companies to stage walk out on January 5
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