Nationwide ambulance strikes due next week have been put on hold after the government agreed to negotiate wages for this year and next.
Strikes by paramedics and other emergency workers involving more than 13,000 people were scheduled to take place on March 6 and 8, but were called off 11 hours after the government intervened.
Health Minister Steve Barclay wrote to the unions hours after paramedics announced they would stop deliveries of essential goods during the strike days, union GMB said.
According to the union, the Department of Health and Welfare has agreed to discuss pay for this year and next, as well as improvements to other conditions.
GMB members who are on strike at the Welsh Ambulance Service also agreed to put the strike on hold on Monday for further talks with the Welsh Government and the Trust.
Other planned NHS strikes at Mersey Care and Barnsley Hospital have also been put on hold.
GMB National Secretary Rachel Harrison stated: “GMB ambulance workers announced a tightening of retreats on the day of the strike.
“Less than 24 hours later, we received a letter from Health Minister Steve Barclay inviting us and other unions to negotiate.”
The move is a “massive shift” on the part of the government, said Ms Harrison, who has refused to consider wage negotiations for months.
“The government has promised additional money on top of existing budgets for both years and that any deal will respect the existing agenda structure for change.”
Unison health chief Sarah Gorton said strikes would resume if talks failed.
“The unions have been saying all along that they can stop the strikes if only the ministers hold formal wage talks this year.
“The government has finally committed to additional investment in wages both this year and next year.”
She said that talk of good pay should have started months ago.
“The coming days will show whether the negotiations will be the beginning of the end of the current dispute. If an agreement can be reached, strikes can be stopped and everyone can work together again to ensure the NHS gets back on track.”
Source: I News
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