Ambulances are parked at Queen’s Hospital in London
LONDON (Reuters) – More than 10,000 ambulance workers across England and Wales will strike at the end of the month over wages and working conditions, union GMB said on Tuesday. UK health services over the Christmas period.
The union said its members, including paramedics, emergency responders and call officers from 9 regional ambulance services, would be on strike on December 21-28.
Workers across a wide range of sectors are taking or planning to take sectoral action in the UK as inflation outpace wage increases and the economy slips into potential recession.
“The last thing they want to do is strike, but the government has left them no choice,” said GMP national secretary Rachel Harrison.
Two other unions, Unison and Unit, said ambulance workers would strike on December 21 over a wage dispute.
UK Health Secretary Steve Barclay said people should continue to use online emergency services for urgent advice, and that they can call the emergency number in life-threatening situations.
“Our priority is ensuring emergency services can continue to operate for those in need and minimizing disruption,” Barclay said in a statement.
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