Andy Prendergast, national secretary of the GMB, told that he will speak with other unions to ensure that strikes have “maximum impact.”
The head of the GMB has proposed that union leaders may coordinate industrial action throughout the NHS this winter for “maximum impact.”
Andy Prendergast, national secretary of the GMB, stated that health workers are fed up with “public school boys who control the government and don’t care” about their pay demands.
Yesterday, more than 10,000 GMB ambulance workers voted to strike, following in the footsteps of nurses who opted to walk out.
Politics live: Union denies the notion that providing wage increases will cause inflation to spiral out of control.
When asked if there will be a “coordinated strike” in health care, Mr. Prendergast stated, “We will be speaking with the other unions.”
“We are aware that nurses have received their first ballot in over a century. We are aware that our Unite, Unison colleagues are currently delivering ballots.
Therefore, we will seek to ensure that this has the greatest possible impact.
Mr. Prendergast was informed that the safety of patients could not be assured if unions and the NHS coordinate strike action.
He emphasized that their safety is no longer assured due to the staffing shortage, which is causing many to leave the field due to low compensation.
“One-third of our members in the ambulance service believe they have been involved in a delay that resulted in the death of a patient, so this is not a flawlessly functioning service,” he said.
The NHS is ‘on its deathbed’
“This is a service that is on its last legs, and our members are truly standing up; the British public should support them.” This scenario is a question of life and death.”
Mr. Prendergast stated that NHS employees “work extraordinarily hard, frequently for wages that many people wouldn’t even consider getting out of bed for.”
Ultimately, people are saying enough is enough, he added. The time has come for them to act. This is the only thing they can do to improve patient safety, improve working conditions, and fill 135,000 vacancies in a service we depend on.”
In nine trusts, paramedics, emergency care assistants, call handlers, and other personnel is due to strike:
- South West Ambulance Service
- South East Coast Ambulance Service
- North West Ambulance Service
- South Central Ambulance Service
- North East Ambulance Service
- East Midlands Ambulance Service
- West Midlands Ambulance Service
- Welsh Ambulance Service
- Yorkshire Ambulance Service
The union plans to meet with representatives in the coming days to arrange dates for the industrial action, which is scheduled to occur before Christmas.
Thousands more ambulance workers in Unison, the largest trade union in the United Kingdom, also plan to strike before Christmas.
In December, one of the busiest months for the NHS, up to 100,000 nurses from the Royal College of Nursing are also planning a massive walkout.
The army has been placed on standby in case it is required to fill posts vacated by striking NHS employees.
A coordinated strike could expedite negotiations.
The British Medical Association’s Dr. Emma Runswick told that coordination between unions will protect patients by allowing them to negotiate how to cover urgent and emergency care.
She noted that a well-coordinated strike “would aid in accelerating negotiations.”
We want to have an effect on businesses and the government to convince them to deal with us.” And if we are coordinated and effective, the government and employers will bargain more quickly. And in the long run, this is better for us and the patients.”
The United Kingdom may experience a wave of strikes this winter, as workers from various industries plan to walk out over pay and working conditions.
As the recession grips the United Kingdom and the cost of living increases, tens of thousands of rail workers, civil servants, firefighters, and teachers are likely to take industrial action.
Wage price spiral ‘nonsense’
Ministers have been criticized for refusing to talk with unions, with Business Secretary Grant Shapps claiming that meeting their salary demands would result in a “spiral” of wage inflation.
Eddie Dempsey, assistant general secretary of the RMT, which represents workers in the transportation industry, dismissed this reasoning.
“This notion of a wage spiral is ridiculous, as wages have been declining as a proportion of income in this country – what goes to wages and what goes to profits,” he remarked.
Mr. Dempsey stated that wages currently account for between 8 and 12 percent of unit expenditures.
He cited a Bank of England study which concluded that there is no risk of wage-induced inflation in Western nations because individuals have less money.
He asserted that the government’s real concern is “a shift in class power.”
“They are concerned about the ability of trade unions and regular workers to negotiate for higher salaries. This is what they are concerned about.”
Rail union “optimistic” a deal will stop strikes
Mr. Dempsey stated that his union has been in discussions for more than six months, and “every time we feel like we’re making progress, the rug is ripped out from under us.”
The RMT is “optimistic” that an agreement can be struck with the new Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, according to the official.
Royal Mail employees are also embroiled in an acrimonious dispute over pay and working conditions, with CEO Simon Thompson accusing union leaders of attempting to “spoil Christmas” by striking.
He asserted that striking workers exhibited “exceptional conduct” and that he has received reports of racism, misogyny, and violence.
The CEO of Royal Mail is accused of “lying.”
Dave Ward, of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), accused Mr. Thompson of “lying” during question-and-answer session with union leaders.
He stated that the union “welcomes an independent examination of the conduct of our members,” but that the CEO’s conduct should also be scrutinized.
“He utilizes (social media) daily, especially on weekends. he provokes our members,” says Mr. Ward.
“He has assembled a squad of union-busters and worker-haters, and they are purposefully launching a psychological assault on every single employee.
“Ask postal employees what they think of this specific CEO.”
