Fresh NHS strikes in London and Yorkshire

Union members at Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospital in London and the Yorkshire Ambulance Trust to walk out early in June

The latest strikes form part of the union’s targeted approach to industrial action as it continues to put plans in place to further escalate the dispute and pressure the government to re-open pay negotiations.

Unite members from across the Guy’s and St Thomas’ workforce, including nurses and other frontline workers, will stage a 24 hour strike beginning at 07:00 am on Thursday 1 June.

This will be followed by a strike by Unite members employed at the Yorkshire Ambulance Trust, including paramedics and call handlers. The workers will be striking on Friday 2 June for up to seven hours, with strike action occurring between 14:00hrs and 22:00hrs.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Our members are returning to the picket lines in targeted industrial action to place further pressure on the government to re-open pay negotiations.

“The current pay deal does not address the fundamental problems undermining the NHS. Workers have suffered real terms pay cuts for over a decade and can no longer afford to make ends meet, resulting in experienced staff leaving the NHS in droves.”

Unite is continuing to maintain industrial action in the NHS after members voted last month to reject the government’s pay offer.

The union is calling on the government to re-open negotiations as the present deal is a further real terms pay cut for NHS workers, who are becoming more desperate due to a combination of soaring costs and low wages.

Unite national lead officer Onay Kasab said: “Our members are entirely committed to their jobs but can no longer stand idly by as they watch the NHS crumble around them, which is placing patients in danger on a daily basis.”