Ambulance Strikes 2023: Know dates, reason for walkouts & how much workers earn

On February 6, tens of thousands of ambulance workers belonging to the unions Unison, Unite, and GMB will be participating in a strike. The strike is a result of two days of industrial action that followed the unions' inability to reach an agreement with Health Secretary Steve Barclay in January.

GMB Union has stated that there is a shortage of personnel in the ambulance service and without proper investment in the workforce, many more people will continue to leave the service.

When will the ambulance workers be on strike?

On February 6, ambulance workers in England, including paramedics, ambulance technicians, emergency care assistants, and other 999 crew members, will be striking. The strike is part of a series of actions, following two 24-hour strikes on January 11 and January 23. In addition, ambulance workers will also strike on February 20 and two more times on March 6 and March 20. Additionally, other NHS workers will also be participating in strikes.

What is the reason for the ambulance staff strike?

Ambulance staff are striking due to a dispute with the government over pay, staffing, and concerns regarding staff retention in the health service. The unions involved, Unison, Unite, and GMB, are not satisfied with the current pay offer and believe it to be unacceptable. Unite, whose representatives met with Health Secretary Steve Barclay, characterized the updated pay offer as an insult to its members.

What is the pay scale for ambulance workers?

Ambulance workers are seeking a pay increase higher than the 4% being offered under the NHS Agenda for Change pay structure, which they view as a real-terms pay cut. The starting salary for a newly qualified paramedic on the NHS pay scale (Band 5) is £27,055 and can go up to £32,934 in most parts of the UK. In London, newly qualified paramedics earn between £31,163 and £37,875. Experienced paramedics with at least 2 years of experience are in Band 6, earning between £33,706 to £40,588. In London, experienced paramedics earn between £38,762 and £45,765.

FAQs:

1. Who is the Prime Minister of the UK?
   Rishi Sunak
2. When did Ambulance Strikes begin?
   December 21, 2022