Yorkshire ambulance workers vote for strike

The union Unite said its 450 members in the Yorkshire service, including paramedics and other staff, will walk out on April 2 and ban overtime from March 26.

The union warned that further strikes could be held.

Unite said the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust had derecognised the union after it raised concerns about patient safety over plans to make £46 million of savings over the next five years.

Union members voted by 61% in favour of strikes and 83% for other forms of industrial action.

Unite regional officer Terry Cunliffe called for talks to avert the action, adding: “This is a final window of opportunity for the trust to resolve this situation for the benefit of the Yorkshire public.

“The management has been trying to silence Unite after it raised legitimate concerns over patient safety that could flow from the shake-up of ambulance services in the next five years.

“Now our members have voted for strike action and for a continuous overtime ban. It shows the depth of concern that our members feel about patient safety because of the £46 million of savings that managers want to implement.

“The hardline management has responded by derecognising Unite and twice rejecting our

attempts to take this dispute to Acas and to discuss the implications of industrial action.”