NHS ambulance workers in the NHS have voted overwhelmingly for industrial action short of strike action in defence of their pensions.
Unison called a seperate ballot for ambulance workers in order that those who would work normally by providing emergency cover during strikes could take part in the campaign to preserve pensions.
The result was 84% voted in favour (5,233 votes cast: 4,408 in favour, 816 against).
This opens the way for a work-to-rule by ambulance staff whilst preserving life-saving emergency cover.
The NHS relies on paramedics and ambulance technicians to treat many patients for minor injuries or to divert them for treatment at non-emergency walk-in centres and so relieve the stress on hospital accident and emergency departments.
The prospect is that during action ‘short of strike’ action, ambulance staff will work to rule for instance by transporting all patients to hospital, thereby overwhelming accident & emergency centres.
