AMBULANCE workers across Somerset have planned two further strike days to take action over pay and staffing.

Workers belonging to UNISON will go on strike tomorrow (Wednesday, January 11) and Monday, January 23.

This month’s strikes will each be for 24 hours from midnight to midnight and involve all ambulance employees, not just the 999 response crews.

Many of the services’ employees are likely to be exempted from the action under emergency cover plans to be drawn up locally by each ambulance employer, working with UNISON, the union said.


Confirmed picket lines in Somerset


Here are the confirmed picket lines at ambulance stations and other SWASFT workplaces.

Pickets will begin at 10am and run through until 10pm.

  • Bridgwater AS (entrance to Woodlands Court, Bridgwater TA6 4FJ)
  • Ilminster AS (4 Butts, Ilminster TA19 0AX)
  • Minehead AS (Townsend Rd, Minehead TA24 6DS)
  • Shepton Mallet AS (Board Cross, Shepton Mallet BA4 5DX)
  • Taunton AS (Lisieux Way, Taunton TA1 2LB)
  • Yeovil AS (47 Reckleford, Yeovil BA20 1JF)


Christina McAnea, UNISON general secretary, said: “It’s only through talks that this dispute will end. No health workers want to go out on strike again in the new year.

“But accusing NHS staff of making a conscious decision to inflict harm on the public by taking action this week was not the health secretary’s finest hour.

“Neither was it a particularly smart move for Steve Barclay to falsely accuse health unions of failing to deliver a national emergency cover plan.

“The secretary of state knew full well life and limb cover arrangements were being agreed locally by ambulance managers and unions.

“It’s time Steve Barclay stopped with the insults and fibs and called the unions in for proper talks about improving NHS pay.

“Speeding up next year’s pay review body process won’t solve the current dispute, which is about the pitiful amount the government gave health workers this year.

“The government must stop using the pay review body as cover for its own inaction. This year’s pay rise simply wasn’t enough to halt the exodus of staff from the NHS.

“The government should right that wrong with an increased, better-matching inflation.

“Only then will vacancy rates reduce, allowing the NHS to get back on track and start delivering safe patient care once more.”

Ambulance workers went on strike in December, too.