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Ambulance workers in Wales who are members of the GMB union will be striking on Monday February 20 after rejecting a new pay offer from the Welsh Government.
Around 1,500 members – or two-thirds of members balloted – rejected the offer, which would have amounted to an average 5.5% pay rise and a 1.5% one-off bonus.
The union said those members will now join almost 10,000 ambulance workers across England on strike.
The union said the offer, which saw an extra 3% added to the existing deal pay packet, would result in members losing 1.5% of their pay for next year’s talks.
Nathan Holman, GMB Welsh NHS lead said: “This is a clear result and members have had their say on the offer.
“We thank Welsh Government for actually entering talks, but if this is their final offer it’s too low for our members.”
He added: “Now more than ever, we need a UK-wide solution to the scourge of low pay that has affected our NHS and ambulance services.
“The only person who can take responsibility for that is Steve Barclay [UK Government Health Minister] and it’s time for him to step up and talk pay now.
“Ambulance workers across England and Wales are waiting.”
Responding to GMB’s announcement, Darren Hughes, director of the Welsh NHS Confederation, said NHS leaders will be “deeply disappointed to hear that, after some positive progress was made in this dispute, stalemate seems to have been reached once again”.
What is the Welsh NHS Confederation?
The Welsh NHS Confederation is a body made up of the seven health boards and three NHS trusts in Wales, as well as Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW).
According to its website, the Welsh NHS Confederation “support[s] our members to improve health and wellbeing by working with them to deliver high standards of care for patients and best value for taxpayers’ money.
“We act as a driving force for positive change through strong representation and our policy, influencing and engagement work.”
He continued: “With three days of strike action in Wales next week affecting the ambulance service across the whole of Wales, the situation is only getting more serious.
“Although derogations are yet to be announced for next week, there’s no doubt there will be a serious and negative impact on both staff and patients, with two ambulance unions striking simultaneously on Monday for the first time.”
Mr Hughes added: “The longer this escalating dispute goes on for, the harder it will be for the system to tackle waiting lists and, more urgently, ensure patients get the emergency care they need. Therefore, we urge governments and all partners across the UK to do what it takes to end these harmful disputes.”
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