Who is on strike today and how does it affect you? Daily update for January 23rd

Ambulance workers, teachers and garbage workers will all picket again to fight for better wages and working conditions.

Thousands of members of Unison, Unite and the GMB unions will move out on Monday as part of continued public health industrial action across England and Wales.

Up to 15,000 Unison ambulance workers will go on strike for the third time in five weeks and will be joined by 5,000 of their NHS colleagues at two Liverpool hospital trusts.

In the last month, industrial action has been taken by nurses, doctors, ambulance drivers, railway workers, taxi drivers, civil servants, lawyers and bus drivers.

The teachers’ strikes began last week and will continue until February 6th.

Ambulance workers in Unison will also take part in another strike, with union members in five ambulance services across England resigning.

The strike will affect London, Yorkshire, the North West, North East and South West and follows actions by members of three ambulance unions late last year.

It comes after another series of strikes were planned by Unite ambulance workers.

The union said its members across England, Wales and Northern Ireland will hold 10 more strikes on Friday in the coming weeks.

As part of the 16-day program for schools, school children will also have fewer teachers than usual in Scottish schools.

The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) confirmed the dates last week.

Two of Scotland’s local authorities have been away from home every day.

Teachers’ unions have rejected a 5 percent pay rise, including increases of up to 6.85 percent for the lowest paid staff, demanding a 10 percent pay rise instead.

Scotland’s Education Minister Shirley-Anne Somerville said the 10% figure was priceless.

The further action comes after Health Secretary Steve Barclay insisted he had had “constructive talks” with unions after a leader accused the government of not being an honest negotiator.

Steve Barclay said further strikes by ambulance workers this week were “extremely disappointing” and would “inevitably” lead to disruption to healthcare.

The government has held talks with unions but Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said the key issue – pay – was not on the table.

She said striking NHS workers must be offered a double-digit pay rise and described the government as willing “to talk about anything but they won’t talk about the pay”.

Ms Graham indicated that union members were considering a 10% pay rise and insisted Labor should show “real leadership” by coming out and saying she would offer it if she were the party in power.

Speaking to broadcasters during a hospital visit last week, Mr Barclay appeared to rule out a 10% pay rise for nurses, insisting it was “unaffordable”.

On Sunday, Mr Barclay issued a statement insisting he had had “constructive talks with unions about next year’s pay process for 2023/24” and would continue talks on “what is affordable and fair”. .

Unions have called for a review of the 2022/23 pay premium.

Ms Graham accused the government of either being incompetent when it comes to negotiations or wanting to privatize the NHS.

She told Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday: “They’re not pay talks and that’s the problem. The big problem here is the pay. There is an issue where the ambulance staff, the nurses and the NHS are saying we need a raise.

“The public supports this pay rise, as we can see from polls, and we have the employer, in this case the government, who will talk about everything but not the pay.”

She described Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as “missing action” and said she believes the government is either at an “unreal” level of incompetence about negotiations or “see this as the moment when they can privatize the NHS”.

She added: “Something unusual is happening here that they’re not going to come to the table. There are choices that can be made, which means we can pay for them.

“There is no problem with paying, we are the fifth richest country in the world. Something’s going on here. Otherwise they are at a level of incompetence that is not known because it is unreal.’

In what appeared to be a bad relationship between government and unions, Ms Graham accused ministers of “lying” and not being “an honest partner on the other side of the table”.

She said: “I’m negotiating with someone right now who I think doesn’t want a resolution and that’s a real problem.”

Ms Graham said the Government must offer a double-digit pay raise rather than “dancing around their purses”.

She told the program: “I think it’s really clear that we’re talking about a double-digit raise. That’s what we’re talking about.

“The RCN has already said they would meet you halfway. I don’t know how many more hints you want to take?

“Well, it’s a double-digit raise. If they came into the room and offered a double-digit raise, we would tell our members, and our members would make the decision.’

Mr Barclay said: “It is extremely disappointing that some ambulance workers are continuing to take industrial action. While we have contingency plans in place to mitigate risks to patient safety, further disruption will inevitably occur.

“It’s important people continue to call in for treatment – call 999 in life-threatening emergencies and use NHS 111 online, local pharmacies and GP services for non-life-threatening care.

“I have had constructive discussions with unions about the 2023/24 wage process over the coming year and I am very keen to continue talking about what is affordable and fair.”

NHS Medical Director Professor Sir Stephen Powis said: “As with other ambulance strikes, the message to patients remains that it is important to come forward and seek emergency care if needed.

“This includes calling 999 for life-threatening emergencies, as well as using 111 online for other healthcare needs where you can get clinical advice on the best next steps.

“People should also continue to use local services, such as pharmacies and GP surgeries, that are not affected by strikes as usual.”

February 6th will see what is likely to be the biggest strike action the NHS has ever seen, with thousands of nurses and ambulance workers on the scene over strikes if no agreement is reached by then.

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