Almost 1,000 East of England ambulance workers have voted to strike in a dispute over pay and staffing, the GMB union says.

Paramedics, emergency medical technicians, call handlers and other staff are set to walk out in the region.

The union said its members voted by an 86% majority for industrial action.

The East of England Ambulance Service (EEAS) is the only service not to have been on strike in the latest wave of action.

Workers across the ambulance service have voted to strike over a pay dispute with the government.

The GMB union will meet with representatives in the coming days to discuss potential strike dates for the EEAS workers.

The union said its members are determined to campaign for better pay and are “furious” over the government’s “apparent attempts to smear” them over life and limb cover on strike days.

GMB organiser Lola McEvoy said: “East of England was the only ambulance trust in the country not to have been on strike – that will now change.

“As industrial action spreads to all corners of England, the Scottish and Welsh Governments have begun constructive talks with the GMB and seen walkouts suspended.

“Ministers in England don’t seem to want to listen, leaving NHS workers and the English public being treated like second-class citizens.

“It’s simple – talk pay now and make a decent offer for this year. Our members and the public are waiting.”

Read more:
Strikes: Who is taking industrial action in 2023 and when?

Ambulance workers across large parts of England and Wales have taken strike action in recent weeks and another walkout is planned on Friday by members of Unison.

It comes after nurses continued with their industrial action today after walking out on Monday alongside paramedics and call handlers in what was the largest strike in NHS history.

Meanwhile, more than 100,000 civil servants are to strike on budget day in an escalation of a dispute over pay, pensions and job security.

The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union has announced a new strike date of 15 March, when Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is due to unveil his spring budget.

It follows a strike last week that saw hundreds of thousands of members in 123 government departments walk out across England, Scotland and Wales.

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