Scottish Ambulance Service Strike Dates
Scottish Ambulance Service Workers Set Winter Strike Dates
GMB Scotland’s members in the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) have set dates for strike this winter in a dispute over pay.
Strikes are set to begin from 6am on 28 November and run to 7:59am 29 November after 89 per cent of GMB members in the ambulance service who participated in the ballot backed strikes earlier this month.
Urgent meetings are being sought with SAS bosses to ensure appropriate staffing levels for critical care.
GMB Scotland Organiser, Karen Leonard said:
“Staff in the Scottish Ambulance Service have worked throughout the depths of the pandemic on the frontline of our public services, all the while dealing with an understaffing crisis and now a cost-of-living crisis this winter. These strikes are a direct response to the Scottish Government who have failed to give key, frontline workers the pay rise that they deserve and who have overseen years of managed decline in the health services that so many rely on.
“Staff are rightly angry with how they’re being treated. They have been overlooked, overworked, undervalued and underpaid. The workforce is being expected to fill more and more gaps in service provision. With the current offer being well below inflation, that means they’re being expected to do more for less.
“This isn’t sustainable for our members, for those receiving care, or for a health service that’s supposed to be fit for the 21st century. You can’t have a world class health service without recruiting and retaining high quality staff with the skills to care for people.
“GMB Scotland has warned of the managed decline of health services for years, but concerns have been consistently ignored. The pandemic just exposed the holes in the health service and the incredible pressures staff are facing. That will get worse if increased investment isn’t made and staff’s wages don’t reflect their value of the work they do.
“Humza Yousaf has warned of strike action in health services. But since GMB’s members announced their mandate for strike, he has done nothing to prevent it going ahead. He has failed to come back with the significantly improved offer he promised. He has put off meeting with our members to discuss an offer. He has been totally missing.
“Humza Yousaf can’t stick his fingers in his ears and hope workers will go away. He has to meet with them. After what they’ve been through, health workers are tired of warm words. Without a significantly improved offer, strike action is inevitable.”
ENDS
Contact: GMB Press office: 07813 542 050 or GMB Scotland Organiser Karen Leonard: 07718 112 031 or email gmbscotcampaigns@gmb.org.uk
