Interview by Andy Ford, Unite NHS rep
On the first day of their strike, Andy Ford interviewed GMB ambulance pickets in Warrington.
Can you describe what this strike is about?
Just our members taking a stand against the government pay offer, and the system as a whole. They feel it’s…broken. The Pay Review Body is a fix, and GMB have said they will withdraw from it.
The pay offer was 4% or £1400. Why is that not enough?
Yes, but most of us have lost money over recent years. We actually earn less now than we did five years ago. It was the shift allowances that got changed to what they call ‘section 2’ and so people ended up £4,000 a year worse off. You only get enhanced time on the hours you do, so nothing extra for bank holidays or time off sick (instead of a single dependable percentage)
Was the vote for action strong here?
Here, I believe it was 90% for the strike
Was it bad during Covid?
Yes, but it’s been horrendous for a few years now, to be honest. We’re held at hospitals, for hours sometimes. We do twelve-hour shifts, and if you’re unlucky you only see one or two patients on a shift; the rest of the time you’re waiting at A&E. It’s a broken system.
Is there the mood to continue?
Yes, I think so. It’s a good turnout at the picket today, we have had donations from members of the public, which we are truly thankful for, and hopefully the government will start taking us seriously. We just need them to talk and negotiate properly.
And you are providing emergency cover?
Yes. We have one ambulance per sector crewed by volunteers, to look after life and limb. They’re out on a job right now. Then Unison paramedics are covering till noon, and then they will join us, and they provide cover from the picket line.
