There is no doubt that many ambulance staff will be deeply disappointed in the results of the pay ballot this year. This branch, alongside many others in the region with nursing and ambulance members, took the decision to campaign for a no vote. We believed at the time, as we still do, that the offers on the table would substantially disadvantage us over the coming years. We may not be economists but we do understand the realities of day to day living, and can’t understand how the government could claim that this was a fair offer.

However, having spoken to a number of health service staff I believe many members took a different view. I don’t believe they felt any differently about the offer - but they did not think that they would be able or willing to do anything about it.

We will now need to see if the Government will keep to their end of the bargain and re open the negotiations next year using the re-opener clause put in place in case inflation goes up rather than down. I have also been reminded that the offer was better for the lower paid members and those were the ones least able to afford to take action to improve the offer.

It is frustrating that we have accepted a deal which many members, when speaking face to face, said that they intended to reject. The reality is that given the vote, the majority went the other way.

UNISON is proud that it is member led. Sometimes this means that the membership goes against the recommendations of the branch. We now need to accept the will of the majority and do the best with what we have. We shouldn’t forget that we have many more challenges on the horizon in the coming months and years, especially with ambulance Trusts going for Foundation Trust Status and the uncertainty which that may bring.

- Ian Hopkins, Branch Secretary

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