‘Stop attacking us’: Ambulance workers accuse government of ‘demonising’ them to justify anti-strike laws
Ambulance workers have written to Rishi Sunak accusing his government of “demonising” them in order to justify new anti-strike legislation.
The letter from paramedics and other members of the GMB union said they were “appalled” at some of the statements from ministers in recent days and that “targeting ambulance workers for a deliberate attack is a disgrace”.
“We feel utterly betrayed by the way your government has singled out ambulance workers as part of a crude attempt to remove our right to strike,” the letter said.
“You and your ministers should be ashamed of the way you have tried to paint us as uncaring about safety standards – nothing could be further from the truth.”
The letter appeared to point to comments made by Business Secretary Grant Shapps, who claimed ambulance workers put lives at risk by not agreeing to country-wide minimum service levels during recent strike action.
The comments were branded an “extraordinary attack” by the GMB Union, who said the strike cover agreed with trusts at a local level was thorough.
In the letter to the prime minister, the GMB pointed to data which showed ambulance delays fell on 21 December – the day of a previous strike.
“Surely you know that we have been working with NHS trusts everywhere to agree emergency cover during strike action,” the letter seen by Sky News said.
“In addition to this, GMB members left picket lines to respond to emergency calls.
“Every day, we go above and beyond our contracted hours to make sure vulnerable patients are cared for and even on days of industrial action, this commitment remains as strong as ever.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
The cycle of ballots, strikes and negotiations continues within the NHS, civil service and on the railways.
The letter went on to say it was not the fault of ambulance workers that the service is in crisis – with response times now the worst on record.
It said delays to getting an ambulance and then entering A&E have been going on “for months and are nothing to do with strike days”.
It added: “NHS workers like us got the country through the pandemic and we’re doing our very best to deal with the crisis in our NHS now, something your government has presided over and should take responsibility for.
“We want a constructive relationship with government to talk about pay and seriously improve conditions throughout the ambulance service.
“But you are making us and our ambulance colleagues feel demonised. Please talk to us and our unions. And stop attacking us now.”
NHS strikes in Scotland put on hold
The letter comes as the threat of widespread strike action in Scotland’s NHS has been put on hold by unions following a breakthrough in talks with the Scottish government.
The GMB, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) said they would now enter an “intensive period of negotiations” on the 2023 pay deal – though they still have a mandate to call a strike if they are unsuccessful.
Humza Yousaf, the Scottish health secretary, said a “positive way forward has only been possible due to both sides willingness to engage and where necessary compromise”.
“This is in stark contrast to the UK Government who this week introduced draconian anti-trade union legislation, which we strongly oppose,” he tweeted.
“I would urge the UK Govt to follow Scotland’s example and engage in meaningful dialogue with trade unions, and offer them a fair pay deal.”
The UK government faced a fresh showdown with unions this week after ministers introduced new legislation requiring minimum-levels of service during strikes on key sectors.
It will mean some union members would be required to continue working during industrial action – which critics say is an attack on the right to strike.
Union bosses have vowed to fight the legislation “every step of the way” and warned it is undermining attempts to settle public sector pay disputes.
Ambulance workers in England are among thousands of public sector workers staging fresh rounds of industrial action this year to demand better pay and conditions in the face of soaring inflation.
Read More:
Around 100,000 civil servants to go on strike on 1 February
Rishi Sunak says public sector pay rises will fuel inflation. Economists say they won’t
Speaking from Scotland, Mr Sunak said he wanted to resolve the deadlock with unions through dialogue
Speaking earlier on Friday, Mr Sunak said he hopes to “find a way through” the deadlock with unions to avert further walkouts.
“Look, I think with strikes it’s important that we remain in strong dialogue with the unions, that’s why the Government invited all union leaders in to have those discussions,” he told broadcasters during a trip to Scotland.
“The discussions are ongoing and hopefully we can find a way through.”
A man has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the ship collision in the North Sea.
Humberside Police said the 59-year-old is in custody to allow enquiries to take place, and officers are talking to those involved to find out what happened.
The force added investigators have started a criminal probe into the cause of the collision between the Stena Immaculate and Solong off the coast of East Yorkshire on Monday, and are working with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
Ernst Russ, the owner of Solong, later confirmed the man detained was the ship’s captain. The shipping firm called him “the master of the ship” – which is understood to be the same as a captain.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Sky News above North Sea ship collision
One person remains missing and is presumed dead after emergency services stopped their search on Monday evening.
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is also involved in early work to determine what caused the two vessels to collide.
Read more: What we know about the collision
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Map shows moment of collision in North Sea
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Superintendent Craig Nicholson, said: “Humberside Police have taken primacy for the investigation of any potential criminal offences which arise from the collision between the two vessels.
“Extensive work has already been carried out, and we are working closely with our partners to understand what happened, and to provide support to all of those affected.
“Following enquiries undertaken by my team, we have arrested a 59-year-old man on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the collision, this follows the conclusion of search operations by HM Coastguard for the missing crew member of the SOLONG.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
North Sea: Sailor presumed dead
He added: “Our thoughts are with the family of the missing crew member, and I have appointed family liaison officers to make contact and provide support to the family.
“The man arrested remains in custody at this time whilst enquiries are under way, and we continue speaking with all those involved to establish the full circumstances of the incident.”
Ernst Russ added in a later statement that it could confirm the master of the Solong “has been detained by Humberside Police in the UK”.
“The master and our entire team are actively assisting with the investigations,” the shipping firm said.
“Out of respect for the investigation and all involved we will not comment further at this time.”
Read more:
Oil tanker collision could have lethal ecological impact
Sky News above North Sea ship collision
HM Coastguard said in an update that the Solong is still alight
US tanker Stena Immaculate was anchored off the coast of East Yorkshire when the Solong crashed into it at around 9.45am on Monday.
Some 36 people were brought safely to the shore, but one person was reported missing from the cargo ship.
At least one tank of Jet-A1 fuel onboard the Stena Immaculate was ruptured, its operator said
At around 11.20pm, the Solong started to drift southwards away from the crash site. HM Coastguard said in an update earlier on Tuesday that the ship is still alight.
Tugboats are in the vicinity to ensure it remains away from the coast
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the container ship is expected to stay afloat, after a minister told parliament that it could sink earlier in the day.
She said she met with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s chief executive Virginia McVea, and was “pleased to have been informed that early indications suggest that both vessels are now expected to stay afloat”.
Ernst Russ also denied reports the vessel was carrying sodium cyanide and said: “There are four empty containers that have previously contained the hazardous chemical.
“These containers will continue to be monitored.”
Stena Immaculate was carrying 220,000 barrels of Jet-A1 fuel in 16 tanks, at least one of which was ruptured, its operator also said.
UK
Triple killer Kyle Clifford will serve whole-life sentence for murdering BBC commentator’s family
Triple killer Kyle Clifford has been handed a whole-life sentence for murdering his ex-girlfriend, her mother and her sister.
Warning: This article contains distressing details.
The sentence imposed by Mr Justice Bennathan means he will never be released.
The former soldier, 26, admitted murdering BBC racing commentator John Hunt’s wife Carol Hunt, 61, and their daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28.
He also pleaded guilty to false imprisonment of his former partner Louise, as well as possession of the crossbow used to kill her and her sister, and the 10-inch butcher’s knife he stabbed their mother to death with.
Louise Hunt
Pic: Facebook
Clifford denied raping Louise, who had broken up with him 13 days before the four-hour attack in the Hunt family home on 9 July last year.
But he was found guilty by a jury last week after a trial at Cambridge Crown Court, which he refused to attend, prompting police and prosecutors to brand him a “coward”.
The judge paid tribute “to the astonishing dignity and courage” of the victims’ family, including John Hunt and his surviving daughter Amy, who hugged after the sentence.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Footage shows Clifford fleeing the Hunt family home
They, along with Hannah’s partner Alex Klein, had read emotional victim impact statements in court as Mr Hunt said hell would roll out the “red carpet” for him.
He said the evidence showed Clifford “to be a jealous man, soaked in self-pity – a man who holds women in utter contempt”.
The court heard Clifford, from Enfield, north London, began planning the murders after Louise ended their 18-month relationship in a message on 26 June.
Carol Hunt pictured with her husband John Hunt.
Pic: Facebook
He tricked his way inside before stabbing her mother to death in what prosecutors said was a “brutal knife attack”, then lay in wait for an hour for Louise to enter the house.
Clifford held her for more than two hours, as he restrained her with duct tape and raped her, then shot her through the chest with a crossbow moments before her sister Hannah got home and was also killed.
He fled the scene and shot himself with the weapon as armed police descended and is now paralysed from the chest down.
The recovered crossbow.
Pic: Hertfordshire Police
The 10-inch butcher’s knife Clifford used was never found but police released an image of the packaging.
Pic: PA
The judge told Clifford, who didn’t attend his sentencing hearing, he went to the Hunt family home to launch “a murderous attack” on his ex-girlfriend’s family.
“You first killed her mother Carol, who even on that day showed you nothing but kindness in the moments before you attacked her,” he said.
“You raped and killed Louise who had been as gentle as she could in ending her relationship with you, after your arrogance and anger proved too much for her to stand.
“Then you murdered Hannah Hunt, who had done nothing to harm you save supporting her little sister.”
The jury wasn’t told Clifford had searched for Andrew Tate’s podcast less than 24 hours before the murders.
Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC said “it is no coincidence” he turned to the “poster boy for misogynists – a poster boy for those who view women as possession to be controlled” the night before committing such “acts of violence against women”.
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports11 months agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports3 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business2 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway