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AIBU?

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Original poster

Ambulance strike is disgraceful?

1000 replies

somethingdifferenttoday · 21/12/2022 08:20

I just read this on bbc news, "Unions say life-threatening callouts will continue to be responded to over the next 24 hours but some urgent calls, for example for late-stage labour or a fall in the home, might not be answered."

Is it just me who thinks this is disgraceful?

Late stage labour at home or an elderly person laying with a broken hip ARE emergencies! I'm not sure how people in a caring profession can strike knowing these calls will go unanswered.

The unions talk about the backlog, paramedics stuck outside hospitals in ambulances unable to unload and go back out on the road but then admit they are striking for more pay rather than as a protest about that. The average salary of ambulance staff of £47,000 and a 4% pay rise isn't enough they claim but if they are given a pay rise, they will stop striking.

I think they do deserve more money (we all do with inflation) but I can't get past them supposedly being in a caring profession but taking steps that WILL cause extra deaths regardless.

I work in the private sector and have had zero pay rise. If I went on strike nobody would die and I'd be fired. This approach is abusing the critical position of their roles. I hope they are not given a pay rise as it will just demonstrate that blackmail works to other public sector workers and we will have even more strikes.

YABU = I support them striking
YANBU = I agree, it's disgraceful behaviour from a caring profession

OP posts:
DailyMaui · 21/12/2022 10:17

PlanningTowns · 21/12/2022 09:02

YABU

fair pay and conditions are what we should all strive for. You say you’d be sacked if you went on strike so obviously you are not in a union (you’d be protected if you were). You also need to be aware that people don’t want to strike, you lose a days pay (of course you do as you are withdrawing your labour) and lots of staff then worry about how they are viewed in the workplace by management (although strikers never get thanks when they achieve better than what was proposed).

the caring professions, indeed any profession, does not want to get to the point where a strike or withholding labour is the only option. Weirdly, these staff are probably the most committed and passionate and want to make things better.

I’ve been on strike once in my 25 year local government career. It’s awful but it was necessary.

the fundamental values of the Conservative Party are for a free market (simply put). The nhs has no part in that.

when a government does not want to listen, how do you expect workers to display not just unhappiness but total and utter disbelief at the way they are treated and paid. Ohhhhhh I know - they should just be grateful that they get paid and we can all stand outside at 8pm on a Thursday and clap. I’ve seen the front benchers expenses claims today (it’s circulating somewhere) - utterly ridiculous let’s just give them a Pat on the back and a clap.

this government and lots of the national media have successfully ran campaigns to divide and rule. Not between the haves and have nots (that’s firmly in place), but between us lot, the workers, those at the coal face…. If we allow this to continue, this race to the absolute bottom (I don’t have it so you can’t), this entitlement our society is going to get into an even bigger mess.

so I repeat Y A B U

Excellent post - sums up everything brilliantly.

And to all the union haters on here... collective action is pretty much the only way working conditions have got changed in the past.

"The reality is that the trade union movement is directly responsible for so-called perks that most of us take for granted these days such as weekends off, equal pay and equal opportunities, maternity pay, minimum and living wages, flexible working hours, workplace health and safety and the right not to get sacked if you are ill."

The majority of nice perks you will take for granted in your working life - like paid holiday (in fact ANY holiday) didn't happen due to the benevolence of company bosses. They had to be fought for.

tulips27 · 21/12/2022 10:17

@Dotjones People are already being harmed and dying! Do you pass the same judgement on the politicians responsible for that?

Bluelightbaby · 21/12/2022 10:17

Venetiaparties · 21/12/2022 10:10

Oh thats okay then, the solution to that is to answer no calls at all!!

Fantastic solution.

Show quote history

When did I say that ???

we can barely attend the cat 1&2 calls and if we do they’ve been waiting wayyyy over the time they should do.

I truly don’t know what the answer is, but something has to change. We need a larger infrastructure to deal with the capacity of calls….but then we need more hospitals to take our patients too as they’re all full !

SillyLittleBiscuit · 21/12/2022 10:18

They won’t want to strike. It’ll go against everything they stand for and everything they set out to do when choosing this line of work. They’re desperate thanks to our horrendous, shit show of a government. The blame lies squarely with them.

orchid220 · 21/12/2022 10:19

Onnabugeisha · 21/12/2022 10:13

Fuck I so am tired of the argument that because the situation is bad, it’s alright to completely destroy it. No, it’s not alright. It’s not justified. The priority should be to save as many lives as possible always, not make a bad situation worse causing yet more lives lost.

Show quote history

The situation will be "completely destroyed" if everyone leaves the job and yest that is what those who are against the strike are suggesting people do rather than strike.

Hadtochangeforthisone · 21/12/2022 10:19

There will be a very poor level of service from the ambulance service today . Due to a strike.

There was a very poor level of service yesterday and the day before and the day before that due to the systematic dismantling by this government of the NHS

The strike is not the reason for anyone dying for lack of an ambulance. It's a symptom of this appalling governments lack of priorities.

CornishGem1975 · 21/12/2022 10:19

So who would you blame a month ago?

The same people @helford - I'm not saying it's right, not at all, I'm just saying I know that's where I would direct my anger.

Venetiaparties · 21/12/2022 10:20

This reply has been deleted

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Holly60 · 21/12/2022 10:20

CornishGem1975 · 21/12/2022 10:05

Rightly or wrongly, if my child died because of a strike, I can categorically say I would not be blaming the government, I doubt it would even enter my mind. I would absolutely be blaming the service and the people that failed them. I don't care if that makes me unreasonable. I know that's exactly how I would feel, and I think a lot of people would feel the same.

So if you went to a spa hotel and found that the pool was broken, your room was dirty, your dinner reservation was lost and you waited for over 2 hours for your treatment, you'd blame the receptionist would you?

You would look at the catalogue of errors and chose the most junior, least influential member of staff to blame?

I should imagine that would be most pointless thing to do and actually you should be looking to the hotel owner to sort it out.

The government is responsible for the smooth running of the NHS. Look to them.

Walkaround · 21/12/2022 10:21

Onnabugeisha · 21/12/2022 10:13

Fuck I so am tired of the argument that because the situation is bad, it’s alright to completely destroy it. No, it’s not alright. It’s not justified. The priority should be to save as many lives as possible always, not make a bad situation worse causing yet more lives lost.

Show quote history

What is not justified is to provide an appallingly bad service without fuss. Saying the situation is not sustainable has made fuck all difference. Trying to carry on as is is not saving as many lives as possible, it’s letting many people die without making a fuss about it.

Onlythings · 21/12/2022 10:21

Onnabugeisha · 21/12/2022 10:13

Fuck I so am tired of the argument that because the situation is bad, it’s alright to completely destroy it. No, it’s not alright. It’s not justified. The priority should be to save as many lives as possible always, not make a bad situation worse causing yet more lives lost.

Show quote history

The point is that they are trying to fix this. Striking is the only leverage they have left to use.

You don’t think they’re enjoying this? They’re not doing it for the laughs! They’re doing this because they have to.

It’s the government you should be angry with.

Venetiaparties · 21/12/2022 10:21

Hadtochangeforthisone · 21/12/2022 10:19

There will be a very poor level of service from the ambulance service today . Due to a strike.

There was a very poor level of service yesterday and the day before and the day before that due to the systematic dismantling by this government of the NHS

The strike is not the reason for anyone dying for lack of an ambulance. It's a symptom of this appalling governments lack of priorities.

Er there is no service today, did you miss that small point? Only life and limb. So basically attending the already dead more or less.

The army are doing their best, but they are not even allowed to save anyone!

MajorCarolDanvers · 21/12/2022 10:21

I think they (ambulance, nurses etc) should get a pay rise.

But

  • I don't think that those working the the medical profession should be allowed to strike.
  • the 19% being demanded by the RCN is ridiculous

PS - I've only had one pay rise in the last 5 years - charity sector

EarthlyNightshade · 21/12/2022 10:22

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We need people like you working as ambulance drivers and nurses. People who would be happy with the pay and conditions as they are now.
Are you up for it?

MarshaBradyo · 21/12/2022 10:22

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Yep well said

Holly60 · 21/12/2022 10:22

CornishGem1975 · 21/12/2022 10:19

So who would you blame a month ago?

The same people @helford - I'm not saying it's right, not at all, I'm just saying I know that's where I would direct my anger.

The point is those ambulance workers were on duty a month ago. They were at work, so how could you blame them a month ago???

WishIhadacrystalball · 21/12/2022 10:22

YABU they have every right to strike, they deserve more money, better working conditions. Think of the abuse they receive when working their backsides off, must be so disheartening. They don’t want to do it but if they don’t nothing will be done.

I can’t imagine how horrible it’s going to be for those in need, wait times have been bad enough just now. You don’t need to look far to find stories of people waiting double figure hours for one, there was a post on her just the other day. I hope and pray that people are ok and those in desperate need get the help required. Such a worry for anyone who becomes seriously unwell or injured. Maybe now the government will listen and give them what they deserve.

Venetiaparties · 21/12/2022 10:22

Onlythings · 21/12/2022 10:21

The point is that they are trying to fix this. Striking is the only leverage they have left to use.

You don’t think they’re enjoying this? They’re not doing it for the laughs! They’re doing this because they have to.

It’s the government you should be angry with.

Show quote history

Holy shit.

You don't use heart attack victims as leverage

Will you at least listen to that. You don't use the dying as LEVERAGE!

SnackSizeRaisin · 21/12/2022 10:22

SuKnackered · 21/12/2022 08:50

@somethingdifferenttoday Flying by, but I agree with you 100%. Striking is a luxury only afforded to those who are paid by tax payers.

Not true. Royal mail is a private company and they are striking. It's ts to do with being in a trade union, not whether you are private sector or public sector

Palomabalom · 21/12/2022 10:22

Inkpotlover · 21/12/2022 10:14

You can swear all you want, but it's a medically proven fact that poor lifestyle choices liking smoking and drinking are triggers for heart attacks.

And actually I am fat and unhealthy, so go figure.

Show quote history

What about people who pursue risky sports for fun and get in to difficulties- rugby, rock and mountain climbing, horse riding, open water swimming. Do they not deserve ambulances either?

neverbeenskiing · 21/12/2022 10:22

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If my mother dies today because Mick Lynch refused to agree to cat 2 call outs - I will be suing his fucking arse from here to hell and back. HE is behind all of this.

If your Mother died last week, when cat 2 call outs weren't being answered (due to chronic staffing shortages and lack of beds meaning ambulances were unable to respond to calls due to queuing outside A&E) who would you be suing?

Walkaround · 21/12/2022 10:22

@Venetiaparties - and what is the Government doing to fix this?

WhenDovesFly · 21/12/2022 10:23

The whole NHS is a shit storm at the moment, but that's not the fault of the nurses, doctors or ambulance staff.

My DH has stage 4 cancer in his spine and his spine has fractured. He was told last week to go urgently to hospital for a scan because the pain had become immense and the vast amount of pain killers weren't helping. He couldn't go by car as he has to be lying flat and given additional pain relief for the trip. Ambulance called at 11am. It turned up at 4:30pm. Got to hospital at 5:15pm and sat in the ambulance for over an hour, queueing for A&E. Got into a waiting area (not actually in A&E) at 6:30pm, but treatment couldn't start in this area. He finally got into A&E at 8:40am the next morning!! A&E is overrun because people can't get in to their GPs and go to hospital instead.

I completely understand why these workers have to strike, to get listened to, but I feel deep sympathy for the people who are going to suffer the consequences.

MarshaBradyo · 21/12/2022 10:23

Venetiaparties · 21/12/2022 10:22

Holy shit.

You don't use heart attack victims as leverage

Will you at least listen to that. You don't use the dying as LEVERAGE!

Show quote history

No you fint

DuncinToffee · 21/12/2022 10:24

YABVU

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