Paramedics go on strike again in two new walkouts over pay

Workers to stage two new strikes on January 11 and 23 as wage and staff dispute escalates, Unison announced this afternoon

It comes after 25,000 paramedics from Unison, Unite and GMB unions walked out on Wednesday (

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Paramedics will stage two more strikes in a pay and staff dispute, the union announced today.

Unison says the industrial action will take place on January 11 and 23.

GMB union members from nine ambulance trusts are also set to strike on December 28.

Thousands of paramedics crossed England and Wales, with some patients being asked to make their own way to the emergency room.

Employees say they are taking to the picket lines by the thousands in their desperation to keep the nation's ailing health services alive.

Two new strikes on January 11 and 23 are planned (

Picture:

Jonathan Buckmaster)

The strike will affect London, Yorkshire, the North West, North East and South West and follows action by members of three ambulance unions on Wednesday.

Unison said the new strikes were a direct result of the government's "repeated refusal" to negotiate improvements to NHS pay this year.

The January strikes will each last 24 hours from midnight to midnight and will affect all paramedics, not just the 999 response teams, as was the case on Wednesday

This comes after more than 25,000 paramedics from Unison, Unite and GMB unions left this week.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay infuriated union leaders on Wednesday saying they had made a 'conscious decision' to hurt people.