Ambulance workers want government to listen as they join picket line in Dudley
Ambulance workers have spoken of wanting the government to listen as they took to the picket line again.
The continuing row over pay and safe staffing levels saw members of the Unite union go on strike on Monday, with staff downing tools and joining picket lines across the country.
This included four stations in the West Midlands, with picket lines taking place between 6am and 12pm and 6pm and 11.59pm at Ibstock Road in Coventry, Chester Road in Erdington, Forge Lane in Stoke and Burton Road in Dudley.
There were more than a dozen members of staff on the picket line outside Burton Road on a warm Monday morning, flying their Unite flags and placards which read "Save our NHS".
Passing motorists also showed their support for the striking workers, honking their vehicle horns and shouting out of their windows, while passing ambulances from stations not on strike also sounded their horns and lights in support.
Although the feeling among the workers was good-natured, with children of workers present, Unite Representative for West Midlands Ambulance Service Jason Kirkham said he was disappointed that the ambulance workers were back out on strike and accused the government of no longer engaging with the union.
He said: "It's disappointing that the government has stopped engaging with us as even though the Staff council had a small majority and acceptance of the offer, Unite members voted to reject, and you would have hoped the government would have had the respect for the union's to bring that back to the table and see what they could have done to stop this happening.
