Ambulance strike: Workers feel betrayed by government, union writes

Striking ambulance unit consciousness "utterly betrayed" by attempts to "paint them arsenic uncaring", a national has said.

The GMB national has written to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, accusing him of "demonising" paramedics, telephone handlers and exigency attraction assistants who are striking implicit wage and conditions.

Ministers person accused workers of putting lives astatine hazard during strikes.

In response, Downing Street said it "greatly valued" ambulance workers and the "door remains open" for talks.

GMB correspond much than 10,000 ambulance workers who went connected onslaught connected Wednesday crossed 9 ambulance services successful England and Wales.

Steve Rice, penning connected behalf of the GMB Ambulance Committee, said helium was "appalled" astatine caller authorities statements and accused them of attempting to region workers' close to onslaught .

He wrote: "We consciousness utterly betrayed by the mode your authorities has singled retired ambulance workers arsenic portion of crude effort to region our close to strike.

"You and your ministers should beryllium ashamed of the mode you person tried to overgarment america arsenic uncaring astir information standards -nothing could beryllium further from the truth...

"We privation a constructive narration with authorities - to speech astir wage and earnestly amended conditions passim the ambulance service. But you are making america and our ambulance colleagues consciousness demonised."

Mr Rice concludes: "please speech to america and halt attacking us."

The missive comes aft the premier curate described the concern enactment arsenic "terrifying".

He told the Commons connected Wednesday: "What is terrifying is that close present radical bash not cognize whether, erstwhile they telephone 999, they volition get the attraction they need."

Business Secretary Grant Shapps told MPs that "a deficiency of timely co-operation" from unions was "putting their constituents' lives astatine risk."

Responding to the GMB letter, Downing Street said the wellness secretary's doorway remains unfastened to talks with unions and it has accepted the autarkic wage reappraisal body's proposal to springiness 1 cardinal NHS workers a wage emergence of astatine slightest £1,400 this year.

A spokesperson said: "However, we indispensable support the nationalist safe, which is wherefore we are introducing minimum work and information levels crossed a scope of sectors to guarantee that lives and livelihoods are not lost."

The Bill is owed to considered by MPs again connected Monday.

Labour lawman person Angela Rayner tweeted: "Ministers cognize this shoddy, unworkable Bill won't bash a happening to assistance moving radical oregon debar strikes."

Ambulance workers are striking implicit pay, diligent information and staffing levels.