AMBULANCE workers are continuing their battle for fair pay and the future of the NHS with new waves of strike action as almost 1,000 walked out in the West Midlands today.

Welsh workers have announced more stoppages on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next week.

In the West Midlands, the GMB union said that the workers will not be “fobbed off” by the government which is refusing to negotiate on pay.

The workers have rejected a 4 per cent increase that unions have called a “massive real terms pay cut” with inflation still at more than 10 per cent.

Unison, GMB and Unite all represent ambulance workers, with today’s action involving GMB and Unite.

Crews were providing emergency cover agreed with management for incidents such as cardiac arrest.

GMB senior organiser Stuart Richards said: “West Midlands ambulance workers are on strike over this year’s pay.

“But ministers seem to think GMB members will be fobbed off by pretending this year’s cost-of-living crisis hasn’t happened. They are wrong.

“The government could easily get these strikes suspended, so why are they leaving NHS workers and the public to suffer?

“It’s simple: talk pay now and make a decent offer for this year. Our members and the public are waiting.”

GMB ambulance workers are striking from 6am today until 8am tomorrow. Unite members are striking from 6am to 6pm today.

Pickets were expected to be in action including at ambulance stations and call centres at Shrewsbury and Donnington in Shropshire, Stoke, Wolverhampton, Bromsgrove, Dudley, Hereford and Sandwell.