South's ambulance crews to be balloted for strike action
The GMB Union says paramedics are getting 'poverty pay'
Staff at three ambulance services in the South are to be balloted for strike action in a row over pay.
The GMB Union says their members at the South Western (SWAS), South Central (SCAS) and South East Coast (SECAMB) Ambulance Trusts will vote on whether to walk out.
The union says paramedics are 'at breaking point', and 'another year of not being able to pay their bills is a step too far'.
The Government's putting a 4% pay rise in place for ambulance staff, which is far below inflation and would amount to a real terms pay cut.
Lib Whitfield, GMB Regional Organiser, said:
“The service being provided by ambulance trusts across the country has been chronically underfunded and staff have for too long been at breaking point with no sign of anything changing.
“Recent CQC reports have been less than complimentary to the management of these services and it is only thanks to the goodwill of the overworked and undervalued crews that the service continues to be as responsive as it is."
In a consultative vote, to see whether more formal action would be supported, 90% of GMB members were in favour of a strike.
Dates for the new ballots, involving 3,500 staff, will be announced in the coming days.