Ambulance workers 'deserve a living wage' - Your verdict on the strikes

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The majority of Mirror readers support the ambulance strikes (Image: Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)
The majority of Mirror readers support the ambulance strikes (Image: Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)

We asked if you supported the ambulance strikes - and an overwhelming majority of you did.

A whopping 709 said yes, while 315 said no.

The results come after around 25,000 ambulance workers across England and Wales went on strike over pay and safety this week.

Paramedics, drivers, call handlers and technicians from the Unison and GMB unions staged staggered walkouts over a 24-hour period.

GMB general secretary Rachel Harrison said: "Lives have been put at risk every single day, not because of these strikes."

Striking teacher forced to take a second job to pay bills ahead of mass walkout eiqxixuitdinvStriking teacher forced to take a second job to pay bills ahead of mass walkout

As well as voting in our poll, many of you had plenty to say about the strike action:

Ambulance workers 'deserve a living wage' - Your verdict on the strikesAround 25,000 ambulance workers across England and Wales went on strike over pay and safety. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

In favour of strike action

Wisdomisthekey posted: "I agree that they should strike; they deserve a living wage for all the hours they work".

Ker15: "Totally support all the strikes, even though they do affect my day to day life. As for the ambulance strike putting lives at risk ... Lives are already at risk with people having to wait hours for an ambulance and then more hours when a vehicle is waiting for a space in the hospital due to years of government cuts."

Margaret O'Hagan: "YES! Totally 100 per cent. I'm afraid that this so-called government will not listen. I feel so much for them and the NHS. This prime minister is stubborn, and hasn't a clue about reality".

MaximeRoche: "I support the ambulance service all the way".

John Adamski: "Yes - 100 per cent solidarity with all the NHS workers forced into this position by this government."

Marial 466: "Yes the ambulance staff are already working in dire conditions - all lined up with sick patients onboard, hospitals packed to the rafters and bed blockers with no care packages set up because of cuts to social care.

"There are barely enough nurses, doctors etc to care for the winter's excess of covid, flu, and norovirus respiratory conditions .

"What do they have to lose by striking? All the deaths are occurring yearly because of the same situation year in year out with no planning or enough money invested to sustain a safe level of care for staff and patients".

Against strike action

Tarka: "I don’t support any strike by any services as all it does is alienate the people they are supposed to help".

Six teachers open up on 'difficult' strike decision - and why they are doing itSix teachers open up on 'difficult' strike decision - and why they are doing it

SeveredLiberty simply said: "Not at all".

Derailed: "If it was done in the same constructive way like the junior doctors over contracts, whereby public and patient safety is not an issue, then yes I would fully support them. But I don't think they would walk out and leave the public with nothing."

Boo boo: "The whole country is in an economic mess but going on strike is appalling. When people are very ill they need ambulances to get to hospital. I don't want to die waiting for them to decide to work."

Ambulance workers 'deserve a living wage' - Your verdict on the strikesDo you support the rail strikes? Let us know (PA)

Rail strikes - take our poll

Rail firms are meeting unions today in a new push to end eight months of strikes.

The RMT and TSSA will hold talks with the Rail Delivery Group, representing train companies, after union leaders had a fractious clash with MPs yesterday.

The railway staff unions have an ongoing dispute with Network Rail and the government over salaries for train drivers. and pay rises that reflect the cost of living.

Ministers are reportedly preparing to let train firms offer a 10 per cent pay rise over two years - up from 8 per cent - and 'water down' demands for driver-only operated trains.

What do YOU think. Do you support the rail strikes? Let us know in the poll below

Expand on your answer in the comments below.

Paul Speed

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