Ambulance staff could walk out in row over sick pay

Union leaders have warned of the threat of industrial action among ambulance workers in a row over sick pay.

The GMB, Unison and Unite said their members in England had rejected plans they warned could lead to cuts of 25 per cent in sick pay. Officials said they would ballot workers for industrial action if cuts were imposed.

The proposals have been put forward as a way of matching changes made to the sick pay of other health workers, unions said.

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“In the course of their work, ambulance staff are exposed to high levels of physical, mental and emotional risk, which makes them vulnerable to illness.

“With sickness levels at consistently higher levels than the rest of the NHS, Ambulance Trusts could make more effective savings through addressing the causes of ill health rather than looking to make staff pay for Government cuts,” a GMB spokesman said.

National officer Rehana Azam said ambulance workers were prepared to take industrial action to defend their sick pay arrangements.

GMB official Steve Rice said: “Ambulance staff are heartily sick and tired of being pushed around and say enough is enough.

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“These cuts to our sick pay are a step too far, particularly as my ambulance colleagues are working under tremendously difficult pressures.

“No ambulance worker wants to take sickness leave.

“Job cuts in the service have required us all to do much more than previously and we don’t want to let the public down or our ambulance colleagues.

“To then cut our sick pay and to penalise us because we take sick leave because of the work we do seems wrong and unfair”.

Christina McAnea, who chairs the NHS Staff Council, said: “The danger now is that employers impose these changes without agreement, which in our view would be unlawful and would force our members to act.

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“We’re all keen to avoid disruption of 999 services to the public, but the employers need to take note of the strong reaction from members to this proposed cut and not risk going ahead without consent.”

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