Paramedics set to stage seventh strike as pay dispute rumbles on

Date published: 10 August 2018


GMB’s North West Ambulance Service paramedics will again stage a 26-hour strike this weekend over long-running pay dispute, the union has announced.

Ambulance staff across the region – which covers Lancashire, Cumbria, Cheshire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester - will walk out for 26 hours from 6am tomorrow (Saturday) to 8am on Sunday.

NWAS paramedics have already staged six strikes in recent weeks after a ballot of members saw more than 84% of those who responded vote for strike action.

GMB understands more than 130 calls were awaiting a resource with none to send following industrial action last Saturday.

It is now believed ambulances from Lancashire and Manchester will be drafted into the Cheshire and Mersey areas.

The union criticised the service after a planned in-person crunch meeting with the NWAS last week did not take place, leaving the long-running dispute unresolved. 

GMB has pledged to continue the strikes until they are assured NWAS has a genuine commitment to find a resolution to the long-running pay dispute.

Paramedics working for North West Ambulance Service have waited patiently for the outcome of job re-evaluation going back more than 13 years.

Mike Buoey, GMB Organiser, said: “I don't think NWAS senior management team recognise the seriousness of this dispute or their actions as demand on the service intensifies this weekend."

GMB represent more than a quarter of NWAS paramedics.


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