UNISON, has announced that:- "Ambulance workers in the North West of England have begun a further 5 days of strike action over lost pay."
 

The union explained to us that Staff who train 999 call handlers returned to the picket lines early this morning and will take further action on:- Thursday and Friday this week.
 

The union says they will also walk out next week on:- Monday, 10 November and Wednesday, 12 November 2025, over the withdrawal of a £3,000 recruitment and retention payment. 
 

UNISON says that:- "The workers lost the money in 2023 without proper consultation. Removal of the payment is hampering the service's ability to attract and retain the employees needed for training Ambulance workers, UNISON says. In addition, most staff on the current training team are seeking opportunities to leave the service and have applied for other roles."
 

UNISON went on to tell us that the strike is escalating because they feel Ambulance Chiefs won't return to the negotiating table or put forward a reasonable offer to settle the dispute.

We are told that Staff are mounting picket lines outside workplaces in:- Manchester, Preston, Liverpool, and Bolton. The workers have already taken 22 strike days before staging this latest action and are urging bosses to return to negotiations.
 

UNISON North West Regional Organiser James Bull said:- "Ambulance bosses can't justify the removal of this payment. The strikes aren't going to stop until they properly consult the workforce and negotiate a reasonable resolution. The workers being forced to strike are highly skilled, and the vital training they provide ensure:- 999 Control Centres and the:- NHS 111 service are ready to react whenever lives are at risk. The way bosses are treating them is an insult to their professionalism."