Scottish ambulance strikes suspended as GMB consults members
Scottish ambulance strikes suspended as GMB consults members over latest NHS pay offer
GMB Scotland has today (Thursday 24 November) confirmed that ambulance service strikes scheduled to start next week will be suspended while the union undertakes a consultative ballot of its 8,000 - plus NHS members over a new pay offer from the Scottish Government.
Ministers have tabled revised terms proposing additional monies to increase pay for staff in Bands 5, 6, 7, and 8A of the Agenda for Change agreement, which includes paramedics and nurses, on top of the flat rate £2,205 increase offered previously.
A 26-hour strike involving around 1,700 GMB members across the Scottish Ambulance Service had been due to commence at 06.00 hours on Monday 28 November. Dates for the consultative ballot involving GMB members in NHS and SAS will be confirmed shortly.
GMB Scotland Senior Organiser Keir Greenaway said:
“GMB is clear that staff must be valued better if government wants to recruit and retain the people needed to tackle the chronic understaffing crisis across NHS frontline services.
“And better value in the pay and conditions of NHS staff will also mean our hard-pressed members have a greater chance of confronting the cost-of-living crisis this winter and beyond.
“The reality is this offer remains below inflation for the vast majority of staff, but it requires our members consultation given the additional monies tabled by the government.
“Whether our members believe it goes far enough to merit acceptance is another matter entirely after a decade of cuts to pay and services, and over two years on the frontline response to COVID-19.
“Strikes scheduled for this Monday in the ambulance service will now be suspended to allow consultations to take place, although strike mandates already secured remain protected.”
ENDS
Contact: GMB Scotland Communications on 07976 447077 or email gmbscotcampaigns@gmb.org.uk
Notes to Editors:
Full details of all NHS Scotland Health Board areas and services where GMB members have secured statutory strike action mandates can be accessed below:
“NHS staff back strikes in Scotland’s ambulance services and biggest health boards”, GMB Scotland Media Release, Tuesday 1 November 2022, access at: <https://www.gmbscotland.org.uk/newsroom/nhs-scotland-sas-strike-ballot-result>
