Paramedic staff walk out for a second day

THE long-running dispute between the North West Ambulance Service and the GMB Union resulted in further industrial action on Friday, June 29.

GMB announced a day earlier that ambulance staff across the region, covering Lancashire, Cumbria, Cheshire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester, would stage a six hour walkout beginning at the start of each day shift on the Friday.

It was the second day of industrial action following the two hour walk outs on Monday, June 18.

North West Ambulance Service said: “The trust has been informed that paramedics who are members of the GMB Union, and have been prior to August 2016, will take action at the start of their shift, for six hours, if their shift starts between 0600 and 1200.

“There are approximately 50 GMB paramedics from throughout the north west that are rostered on shift during that time and are therefore eligible to take action.

“The previous day of action saw 60 staff withdraw their services.

“Paramedics who are not members of GMB will be on working as normal.”

Michael Forrest, deputy chief executive for North West Ambulance Service (NWAS), said: “The trust is extremely disappointed with the actions proposed by GMB and believes it has worked closely with them to try y and work through the issues which formed the basis of the ballot.

“Talks are ongoing and we will be doing all we ● Walkout: paramedics can to minimise impact on the public.

“We will continue to make attempts to resolve these issues as quickly as possible and would like to assure the public that their safety is our primary concern.

“This second day does have the potential to cause some delays, particularly to the less urgent calls so while we have robust plans to ensure as much cover as possible, we ask the public to help us by only calling 999 for an ambulance for life-threatening or potentially lifethreatening emergencies.

“For non-emergency health concerns, alternative care and advice can be found though local pharmacies, GP surgeries, walk-in centres or NHS111.”

GMB said that it was taking action to show that ‘enough is enough’ after waiting more than 12 years for the outcome of job re-evaluation.

A ballot of GMB members saw more than 84% of those who responded vote for strike action.

Paul Turner, GMB organiser, said: “GMB’s hard-working North West paramedics have simply had enough.

“We submitted a freedom of information request to NWAS, which made it clear the trust that had sought advice from senior figures within NHS employers - a clear breach of national job evaluation guidelines ( JEG).

“Our members now have no confidence in the JEG to enable a a fair and transparent evaluation.

“GMB is asking for an independent investigation to be undertaken into what has gone on during the past 13 years and the reason we are in this situation.

“Our members have been astoundingly patient in waiting for their job to be re-evaluated for the years between 2005 to 2016.

“We are not taking this action lightly and would have expected the employer to take it more seriously.

“After almost 13 years, our members are now saying enough is enough.”