Ambulance Strike – Union Newswire

Donate to support striking workers

The UK is currently experiencing a wave of industrial action as workers struggle with rising inflation and wages that are not keeping track.

And the Westminster government is refusing to hold meaningful talks with unions as general secretary Christina McAnea discusses in her latest blog.

As UNISON members have been taking sustained industrial action for some time now, across different sectors, the union is now welcoming donations to our strike fund.

You can make a one-off bank transfer or set up a regular standing order to:

Account name: UNISON

Account no: 20170693

Sort code: 60-83-01

Reference: If you want your donation to go to the health strike fund, please use the reference health.

If you want your donation to go to Environment Agency, please use the reference env.

If you don’t use a reference it will go to the general strike fund.

The article Donate to support striking workers first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Five ways that you can support Monday’s NHS strikers

A third strike in the ongoing NHS pay dispute takes place on Monday 23 January. UNISON members working in the ambulance service in five regions will be walking out, as well as staff in hospitals across Liverpool.

But before getting into how you can show your support, it’s important to note that there are strict legal provisions and a statutory code of practice around who can picket and how pickets are run.

It’s vital to make sure legal requirements and patient safety are maintained, and UNISON regional offices will be working with striking branches to manage invitations and arrangements for visitors to their pickets.

So please don’t go to picket lines unless invited by striking branches.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t still support the strikers, so here are five ways.

1.#PutNHSPayRight

Use our template tweet, but don’t be scared to give it a personal touch!

Show your support

Follow #PutNHSPayRight on twitter, get involved on Facebook, retweet and repost striking branches as well as UNISON’s national and regional accounts.

2. Honk those horns – and share our video

While you may not be able to join the official pickets, if you happen to be walking or driving past as part of your day, you can still show your support, honk your horns or give them a cheer, we’re sure they’ll appreciate it.

3. Share our graphics

Make sure to use our graphics, if you want your support to pop, with shapes and sizes to suit all the social channels.

Download the graphics

4. Write to your MP

This is an issue that the government can fix, if it chooses to. Write to your MP using our template letter to tell them to support the campaign and put pressure on the government to put NHS pay right and fix our NHS.

Write to your MP

5. Keep up to date

Make sure to follow our live feed on Monday. We’ll be posting updates from all over the country all day so you can follow along – you’ll find the rolling feed on the front-page of the UNISON website.

You can also read a recent blog from a ‘NICE’ member about why they went on strike on Tuesday.

Blog: NICE and NHS staff are for life, not just for COVID

The article Five ways that you can support Monday’s NHS strikers first appeared on the UNISON National site.

The streets of London – pictures from the picket lines

Wednesday’s day of strike action in the ambulance service, across England, saw pickets throughout London.

Touring the capital was UNISON head of health Sara Gorton – above, with pickets at Waterloo – moving from there, where she addressed massed ranks of news media, to sites including Deptford and Greenwich.

She was accompanied by photographer Marcus Rose, who recorded events.

Waterloo picket – sun shining through flags

Pickets at Waterloo attaching a sign to an ambulance to stress provision of emergency cover

Waterloo picket – UNISON head of health Sara Gorton being interviewed by media

UNISON ad van between two ambulances at Waterloo

Pickets at Waterloo with an ad van

Waterloo picket with 'honk for the NHS' handwritten placard

Sara Gorton addressing media at Waterloo picket

Flags waving on Waterloo picket

Three pickets with placard, around a brazier, at Deptford

Cyclist waving to pickets at Deptford

Pickets at Deptford applaud as emergency cover ambulance leave the station

Pickets at Deptford Show placards to passing traffic

Pickets at Deptford with 'honk your support' placard

Pickets at Deptford

Sara Gorton with pickets at Deptford

Sara Gorton talking to media at Deptford

Pickets at Greenwich stand clear as emergency cover ambulance leaves

Sara Gorton with UNISON flag, with pickets at Greenwich

Pickets at Greenwich greet two small dogs

Pickets at Greenwich with a brazier

Sara Gorton listening to a picket at Greenwich

Christina McAnea tours pickets in Yorkshire and the North East

Through sun and rain, on the picket lines in Bristol

#PutNHSpayright – our rolling covering from the day itself

The article The streets of London – pictures from the picket lines first appeared on the UNISON National site.

#PutNHSpayright – all the news with our rolling report

08:20am In response to government plans to introduce minimum cover regulations for strikes, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea told the BBC that during the strike in December, staff didn’t hesitate to leave picket lines when someone’s life was in danger”.

But she continued: “After a decade of refusing to bring in minimum staffing levels, it’s ironic that the government is only prepared to do so during a strike.

“Every other day of the year, ambulance crews are stuck queuing for hours outside A&E departments and hospital staff are rushed off their feet. But the government isn’t interested in minimum staffing levels then.”

07:45am Good morning all. This is the start of another historic day, as UNISON members working in the ambulance service across England take a second day of industrial action.

We will be bringing you reports from around the regions, so stay tuned.

The article #PutNHSpayright – all the news with our rolling report first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: Ambulance workers will walk out on Wednesday – and I’ll be out on the picket with them

Our next strike days in the NHS will go ahead on Wednesday 11^thJanuary and Monday 23^rd January, despite last minute talks between UNISON, other health unions and the secretary of state for health and social care.

Our head of health, Sara Gorton, was at the meeting and was interviewed by the press immediately afterwards. Sara explained how the government has moved from the position they’ve held for months, but there was a lack of clarity or concrete proposals and so our strike on Wednesday is still on.

Of course, our industrial action could have been avoided entirely if the government had opened up pay negotiations with us, and other health unions, months ago. But their continued refusal had led us to our first round of industrial action in December.

Despite almost daily news coverage of the problems in the NHS and the harm this is causing to patients, the Prime Minister and his government are failing to get to grips with this crisis and the cost of living crisis. They’re also failing to respond to the needs of hardworking NHS staff, by coming up with no solution to this dispute. And that’s being generous of me.

But with your action, perhaps they’re starting to get it. We are clear, that until they deliver a pay boost for NHS workers for 2022/23, this dispute will not be resolved.

Ambulance workers in five regions will walk out on Wednesday and I’ll be out on the picket lines to show striking health workers that UNISON is 100% behind them. And here’s how you can show your support too. Our guide gives you five quick ways you can show your solidarity to striking ambulance workers.

Finally, it’s important to remember that it’s our union’s commitment to fighting for decent public services across the UK, and for better working lives for the people who deliver them, that drives our work and collective action. Without a well-paid, valued and supported workforce, the NHS cannot deliver the quality of care that patients need. Our members’ livelihoods, and the future of our NHS, are always worth fighting for.

The article Blog: Ambulance workers will walk out on Wednesday – and I’ll be out on the picket with them first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Five ways to support our ambulance strikers

A second strike in the ongoing NHS pay dispute takes place on Wednesday this week and UNISON members working in the ambulance service in five regions will be walking out.

But before getting into how you can show your support, it’s important to note that there are strict legal provisions and a statutory code of practice around who can picket and how pickets are run.

It’s important to make sure legal requirements and patient safety are maintained, and UNISON regional offices will be working with striking branches to manage invitations and arrangements for visitors to their pickets.

So please don’t go to picket lines unless invited by striking branches.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t still support the strikers, here are five ways.

1. Send your solidarity

Fill in the form on the webpage below to send your messages support and solidarity to striking workers.

Send your solidarity

You can also make your support known on local or national radio phone-in shows.

2. #PutNHSPayRight

Get on social maid channels, get active and get the message out!

Follow #PutNHSPayRight on twitter, get involved on Facebook, retweet and repost striking branches as well as UNISON’s national and regional accounts.

You can also use UNISON’s graphics to show your support.

Download the graphics

3. Write to your MP

Write to your MP

4. Honk those horns

5. Keep up to date

Make sure to follow our live feed on Wednesday. We’ll be posting updates from all over the country all day so you can follow along – you’ll find the rolling feed on the front-page of the UNISON website.

The article Five ways to support our ambulance strikers first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Further strikes inevitable unless government holds talks and moves on NHS pay, says UNISON

Two further strike days involving ambulance staff working for five services in England are to take place in the new year, says their union UNISON today (Thursday).

Ambulance workers belonging to UNISON and employed by services in London, Yorkshire, the North West, North East and South West are to take action over pay and staffing again in January. Staff will be called out on strike on Wednesday 11 and Monday 23 January 2023.

This follows a noon to midnight strike yesterday (Wednesday) and is a direct result of the government’s repeated refusal to negotiate improvements to NHS pay this year, says UNISON.

The two dates next month are, as UNISON has warned, an escalation of this week’s action. The January strikes will each be for 24 hours from midnight to midnight and involve all ambulance employees, not just the 999 response crews, as was the case on Wednesday.

Many of the services’ employees are likely to be exempted from the action under emergency cover plans to be drawn up locally by each ambulance employer, working with UNISON, says the union.

Commenting on the new strike dates, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “It’s only through talks that this dispute will end. No health workers want to go out on strike again in the new year.

“But accusing NHS staff of making a conscious decision to inflict harm on the public by taking action this week was not the health secretary’s finest hour.

“Neither was it a particularly smart move for Steve Barclay to falsely accuse health unions of failing to deliver a national emergency cover plan. The secretary of state knew full well life and limb cover arrangements were being agreed locally by ambulance managers and unions.

“It’s time Steve Barclay stopped with the insults and fibs and called the unions in for proper talks about improving NHS pay.

“Speeding up next year’s pay review body process won’t solve the current dispute, which is about the pitiful amount the government gave health workers this year.

“The government must stop using the pay review body as cover for its own inaction. This year’s pay rise simply wasn’t enough to halt the exodus of staff from the NHS.

“The government should right that wrong with an increase better matching inflation. Only then will vacancy rates reduce, allowing the NHS to get back on track and start delivering safe patient care once more.”

After the festive break, the union is also to begin to ask around 13,000 staff in ten English NHS trusts if they’re prepared to take strike action in the spring over the government’s failure to deliver a proper pay rise this year.

This is because the turnout in the previous strike ballot, the results of which were announced last month, fell just below the threshold required by law, says UNISON.

This includes all the remaining five ambulance services in England – the West Midlands, East Midlands, East of England, South East Coast and South Central. There will also be a re-ballot of staff working for the Welsh Ambulance Service, says UNISON.

Health workers belonging to UNISON and employed at Great Ormond Street Hospital, Liverpool Women’s Hospital, London’s Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust and the North West-based Bridgewater Community Trust are being asked to vote again. There will also be a re-ballot of UNISON members working for the NHS Blood and Transplant service.

Notes to editors:
– Emergency response crews working for five ambulance services in England – London, Yorkshire, the North West, North East and South West – were called out on strike yesterday by UNISON. The action took place from midday to midnight. – Health workers belonging to UNISON in Northern Ireland took a day of strike action over pay on Monday 12 December. More dates are due to be announced. In Scotland, UNISON members voted by a small majority to accept an improved offer from the Holyrood government. – In July the government in Westminster announced most NHS staff on Agenda for Change contracts (NHS terms and conditions) in England would get a pay rise of £1,400, in line with the NHS pay review body’s recommendation. This amounted to a 4.75% increase to the NHS pay bill. Health workers had been due a wage rise on 1 April. Health workers in Wales got the same award. NHS staff in Northern Ireland have so far had no pay rise this year at all. – UNISON and most other health unions had called for an above-inflation pay rise in their submission to this year’s NHS pay review body.

Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

The article Further strikes inevitable unless government holds talks and moves on NHS pay, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Ministers have power to pause strikes by committing to pay boost, says UNISON

Thousands of ambulance workers across England walked out today (Wednesday) after the government failed to take part in any pay talks to prevent disruption to NHS services, says UNISON.

Staff belonging to UNISON at five ambulance services – North West, North East, Yorkshire, London and South West – have been staging a 12-hour walkout from noon over pay and staffing.

UNISON says all health workers will want to escalate strike action in the coming weeks if the government continues to ignore efforts to resolve the dispute.

Ministers have had ample opportunity to avoid industrial action over the inadequate pay given to NHS staff, but have steadfastly refused to take part in any talks, says the union.

Those taking part in the action today include paramedics, emergency care assistants, ambulance technicians and other 999 road crew members, who have been on picket lines in various parts of England.

Throughout the day, ambulance workers have been leaving picket lines to respond to calls where someone’s life is in danger.

UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “The government has let down staff, patients and the public, pure and simple.

“It would be job done if ministers put as much energy into solving this dispute as they have spreading scare stories and demonising skilled ambulance staff.

“Vacancies are at an all-time high in the NHS. The grim reality is that patients are being harmed every day by a woefully understaffed health service.

“Most UK ambulance trusts had declared critical incidents even before the strike took effect. The system can’t cope after years of government neglect.

“Pressures on the service are so great, that every day of every week, very sick people are waiting hours for emergency crews to arrive, and in many cases, the ambulance gets there too late.

“Steve Barclay has waited until the day of the strike to gripe about the supposed lack of contingency arrangements. As the secretary of state knows only full well, agreements have been made locally between unions and employers in each ambulance service.

“A proper pay rise this year won’t solve every problem in the NHS, but it’d help stem the tide of staff leaving. They’re exhausted, feel hugely undervalued and can easily find better paid work elsewhere.

“Staff and unions said from the start a £1,400 pay rise in the midst of the cost-of-living crisis was nowhere near enough. The government’s response has been to do absolutely nothing in the five months since.

“The health secretary could have nipped this dispute in the bud by agreeing to negotiate and budge on wages. If he does, further strikes could be paused.

“If Steve Barclay intends to bring in minimum staffing levels during a strike, he must go the whole hog and ensure this is the case all year round.

“The Prime Minister entered Number 10 saying he believed in strengthening the NHS. Everyone now wants him to prove it, starting with a wage boost to staff right across the NHS.”

Notes to editors:
– Details of UNISON’s picket lines are available here.
– UNISON balloted 20,000 staff including in the 5 ambulance services and 2 NHS trusts who took action today.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.Media contacts:Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk

The article Ministers have power to pause strikes by committing to pay boost, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: A message to ambulance strikers on a difficult day

Today’s strikes across the NHS are not taken lightly, and not celebrated, but the government must take serious heed.

UNISON members at two Liverpool hospitals walked out at 7.30am and ambulance road crews across five trusts will start their strike action at 12 noon, as part of our dispute over pay and staffing.

Much planning has gone into contingency arrangements that have been agreed through negotiations with local employers and NHS staff. The same staff who have put so much hard work into patient care over many, many years.

Brave NHS staff who cared for the country in the pandemic are now taking this difficult industrial action to draw attention to the deep crisis in the NHS.

I, and all those involved in the action, expect it to be a difficult day. We are prepared for the government to play the blame game, rather than constructively negotiate with us. But we are not prepared to give up on our aims of improving pay, staffing, and ultimately, patient care.

I’ll be visiting picket lines across London today, to support our members, and my message to all the strikers today is this:

The current state of the NHS, and the resulting industrial action, is not your fault. Any blame from the government today, is a deflection away from taking responsibility for their own actions over the last 12 years.

Not only have they failed to provide the public with a safe, reliable, and first-class health service, they have managed its decline. Not only have they dug a very big hole by refusing to talk about pay, but they’ve also proven they’re incapable of any kind of decent and constructive industrial relations.

But right now, please remember that our action is lawful and right. Stay strong today, and for the rest of this dispute. We have no choice but to carry on, because the future of the NHS depends on all of us fighting for it.

I’ve been receiving messages of support from individuals, and organisations, who can see the damage the government is doing to the NHS and they’re behind us in taking this action today. I genuinely believe most of the public are behind us too.

The article Blog: A message to ambulance strikers on a difficult day first appeared on the UNISON National site.