Ambulance workers in the GMB union formed a picket line at Wrexham Maelor Hospital today, Wednesday, January 11.

GMB Union said workers with the Welsh Ambulance Service voted in favour of industrial action over the Government’s 4% pay award, which they described as “another massive real-terms pay cut”.

To end the dispute the union says it needs a concrete offer to help resolve the NHS’s recruitment and retention crisis.

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It is understood the Welsh Government has invited health unions to discuss a one-off cash payment over and above the 2022-23 pay award, as well as a series of non-pay issues including agency staffing and employee welfare and wellbeing issues.

Further strikes by ambulance workers are in place for later in January also. 

Staff braved the conditions on the picket line in Wrexham, where the supervisor for the Wrexham branch, Andrew Harris said: "We're out today picketing to try and get better working conditions not just for ourselves but for the people of the community. 

"We know you all deserve a better service and that's what we're trying to do. 

The Leader: Andrew HarrisAndrew Harris (Image: Newsquest)

"We've informed the government no end of times that the service is in crisis and they don't seem to be taking any notice of us. 

"This is the last resort, we didn't want to picket, but we felt like we had no other choice but to highlight what is going on in the community."

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We recognise why so many ambulance workers voted the way they did and the anger and disappointment many public sector workers are feeling at the moment.

“We will continue to work with the NHS, unions and partners to ensure life-saving and life-maintaining care is provided during the industrial action, patient safety is maintained and disruption is minimised.

“But it is vital that all of us to do all we can to minimise pressure on our health service during the industrial action and consider carefully what activities we take part in.”