05 March 2023 , 17:25
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All industrial action by ambulance workers has now been called off as the Government finally agreed to enter pay talks with union leaders.
Unite have joined Unison and the GMB in suspending nationwide walk-outs planned for March 6 and 8.
On Monday, members at ambulance trusts in the West Midlands, North West, South Central, South Coastal, and East Midlands had planned to hit picket lines.
Head of operations Gail Cartmail confirmed the strike will now not take place.
But it came laced with a warning that if a satisfactory conclusion was not reached, staff would down tools again.
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"Following further assurances from the government over the weekend Unite has in good faith agreed to pause the strike action," she said.
Ambulances will be in operation and not now parked up after strikes were called off (PA)"If the meeting doesn't meet these assurances strike action will resume."
Unite said the assurances relate to a confirmation that any deal will include new money, rather than placing further pressure on NHS budgets and an indication that discussions about "efficiencies" and "productivity savings" will not result in attacks on the conditions of NHS staff.
It was announced on Saturday that both Unison and the GMB have now suspended strike action for next week.
They have been assured additional investment is available for pay rises this year and next year outside the current budgets, union bosses say.
Unite has now cancelled its members' planned walk-outs from Monday (Getty Images)After months of waiting, the Health Secretary wrote to unions within hours of GMB ambulance workers announcing they would reduce emergency cover on strike days.
The Department of Health and Social Care has now agreed to discuss pay for both this year and next year - as well improvements to other terms and conditions.
Unions have also received assurances there is additional cash for both years above existing budgets and that any deal would respect the existing Agenda for Change structure.
Unite said the assurances relate to confirmation that any deal will include new money, rather than placing further pressure on NHS budgets and an indication discussions will not impact the conditions on health staff.
The GMB suspended their planned action on Saturday (PA)It would have marked the first time that Unite members in South Central and South Coastal had taken industrial action.
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Members in Yorkshire, who are also planning to strike for the first time, were due to take industrial action on Wednesday.
Unite had also called off strikes in Wales on March 6 due to pay talks continuing with the Welsh Government.
It comes after Unison and GMB unions cancelled industrial action which would have involved tens of thousands of key workers.
Unison and GMB made the decision after the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) said money was available for potential pay rises covering this year and next.
Some 32,000 NHS workers would have been involved in planned Unison strikes - including 24,500 ambulance staff - while 13,000 ambulance workers were part of the GMB action.