Wales ambulance strike postponed after higher pay offer

• The GMB union representing Welsh ambulance employees has halted its strike action.
• GMB members had planned to go on strike for four days.
• They have been put off until the union evaluates the most recent offer, though.

Following the ministers’ presentation of an improved offer, the GMB union representing Welsh ambulance employees has halted its strike action.

The Welsh government reportedly gave an additional one-time pay deal to the workers’ previously mandated 4.5% wage increase, according to the Media.

GMB members had planned to go on strike for four days starting on Monday in February and March.

They have been put off until the union evaluates the most recent offer, though.

What other unions have decided to do at this time is unknown.

Although the offer’s specifics have not yet been made public, the Welsh government has confirmed that 2023–24 negotiations will start right away, according to the GMB.

A quarter of Wales’ ambulance workers, including paramedics, call centre agents, and ambulance technicians, are represented by the GMB.

However, the Monday walkout by around 1,500 union members will now be postponed.

GMB and Welsh NHS lead, Nathan Holman, said: “We appreciate the frank and open dialogue with them over the last few months.

“This has only been made possible because the Welsh government has been prepared to talk about pay – a lesson for those in charge on the other side of the Severn Bridge.

“We are a member led union, ultimately they will decide.”

Since December, thousands of ambulance workers have been on strike, and GMB members have only been responding to calls that are truly life-threatening.

In January, employees went on two strikes to demand greater compensation that would be above inflation.

The Welsh government came under growing pressure as a result of the “significantly interrupted” service caused by strikes.

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