Ambulance workers vow to continue strike action as unions accuse bosses of creating 'two tier workforce'

Specialists who train emergency or 999 call handlers have walked out for a third time this week

Ambulance workers who have this week walked out for a third time in a dispute over pay have to vowed to continue their action.

It comes as a trade union chief accused North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) bosses of creating a 'two-tier workforce' by removing an incentive payment 'without justification.'

Specialists who train emergency or 999 call handlers at ambulance control centres across the region have been out on strike since Tuesday this week, following two rounds of similar action in March.

NWAS says the action 'has not affected our ability to respond to patients or the wider healthcare system or cover planned training sessions.'

Some workers have lost around £3,000 a year – or nine percent of their wages – after the trust withdrew a payment designed to attract and retain staff, according to UNISON.

They say only 'long-standing' members of the training team are still eligible to receive the money, not workers who have been promoted or seconded to the unit.

"The payment was removed without justification and has created a two-tier workforce" the union said in a statement issued today (Friday, May 9).

It is claimed around 16 members of the Integrated Control Centre (ICC) Educators team have been involved in the action.

Today is the last planned day of the latest strike, with the staff due to return to work on Monday. However, UNISON says workers will continue the dispute unless managers 'come to the negotiating table.'

According to UNISON, the educators’ department was restructured in 2023 splitting the previous post into two separate jobs.

This has led to some staff suffering a 'pay cut on promotion', the union alleges. "We believe the same recruitment and retention risks remain" they said.

NWAS insist they 'consulted with staff and trade unions' and that the changes and 'are in line with national terms and conditions.' They say they are 'continuing to engage' with unions in a bid to resolve the dispute.

UNISON North West regional organiser James Bull said: “Bosses at the North West Ambulance Service should stop raiding pay packets and come to the negotiating table with a plan to end the dispute.

“These specialist staff deliver vital training to ensure the ambulance trust provides a good service to the public. But they’ve been treated appallingly.

“The payment that's been removed was introduced because the service was struggling to recruit and retain staff. Those risks remain

“North West Ambulance Service should come forward with a reasonable proposal to resolve this dispute – or face further strikes.”

An NWAS spokesperson said, “We continue to engage with the trade unions to resolve the dispute related to a restructuring of a small group of training staff.

"The team restructuring significantly expanded the pool of people who could apply for the post, and as a result, an additional payment designed to attract and retain staff was no longer required.

"The changes were consulted with staff and trade unions and are in line with national terms and conditions.

“Existing staff were protected, so they did not suffer a detriment, which means no staff had any pay removed.

"The newly appointed staff knew the posts no longer attracted a recruitment and retention premium when they applied for and accepted the positions.

“The action has not affected our ability to respond to patients or the wider healthcare system or cover planned training sessions.”