Peter Lazenby
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A SECOND strike by ambulance workers has been suspended to thank the public for their support during the first nationwide ambulance strike for 30 years.
On Wednesday, unions Unison, GMB and Unite took action jointly with a one-day stoppage in the fight by NHS workers for better pay and conditions.
GMB members were to have staged a second strike on December 28.
But the union said yesterday that it was so overwhelmed by the “amazing” public support on its first day of strike action that it has cancelled the strike to reciprocate.
Instead, GMB ambulance staff will strike on January 11.
GMB national secretary Rachel Harrison said: “We are overwhelmed by Wednesday’s amazing public support for our paramedics and ambulance staff.
“People across the country have been wonderful in backing us and we care so much about them too.
“That’s why we are suspending the proposed GMB industrial action on December 28.”
Ms Harrison said that with the workforce crisis in the NHS being “so severe” and “our commitment to getting ambulance staff the proper pay they deserve stronger than ever,” the union has scheduled the industrial action in the new year.
“The incredible British public are why we are suspending our action over the Christmas period,” she said.
“But it also means the government can now do what ambulance workers and the public want — get round the table and talk pay now.
“We are here 24-7. Any time, any place.”
In a final message to the Health Secretary, she said: “Over to you Steve Barclay. Everyone is waiting.”
