Epsom & St Helier ambulance strike to begin on Wednesday amid union claims of expensive strike busting
The Trust look set to pay for private hire vehicles for patients on the strike days but not to pay these members what they’re owed, says GMB
GMB, the union for NHS workers, can today announce the dates for the strike action at Epsom & St Helier NHS Trust.
Members of the union employed as Care Assistants in the patient transfer ambulances will be taking strike action this Wednesday [24 April] and will also strike on Thursday 2, Friday 3 and Tuesday 7 May.
The escalating dispute centres around backpay, with some workers owed up to £1300 for non-payment of the London Living Wage.
Helen O’Connor, GMB Regional Organiser said:
“It is simply staggering that Epsom and St Helier NHS management are burying their heads in the sand as their staff are due out on the first day of strike action this week.
“Furthermore we are hearing that the trust is willing to spend extortionate sums of public money on private hire vehicles for patients on the strike days.
"There appear to be limitless pots of money to try to break a strike but no money to pay wages owed to hard-working staff.
“The ambulance care assistants work hard to deliver an outstanding service for the patients and withholding wages is nothing more than a kick in the teeth.
“GMB is demanding that the trust resolve this dispute before the first strike day because clearly the money is there for the trust to pay ambulance care assistants what they are owed.”
