AMBULANCE crews in Warrington are on the verge of industrial action over a three-year pay dispute, union chiefs have warned.

At a packed meeting of the Mersey Regional Ambulance branch of UNISON earlier this month, 100 members voted unanimously to hold a ballot on industrial action, which could include strikes.

Dave Robb, Chairman of the Mersey Regional Ambulance branch of UNISON, said there was now "no doubt" that members would vote in favour of industrial action, but remained tight-lipped about what form the action could take.

He said: "Goodwill has been removed, but overtime will continue so that patients' lives will not be placed at risk."

Mr Robb stressed that strike action would be considered only as a last resort, but could not be ruled out if other attempts at resolving the dispute failed.

For three years, unions and management have clashed over a two-tier pay system for crews doing the same job.

Mr Robb said that crew members in the Patient Transport Service on local Trust contracts were working for lower pay and under worse conditions than others in the same service, who work under terms set by the government.

This means that a crew member in the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service, which covers Warrington, can be paid as much as one pound an hour less than a colleague carrying the same stretcher.

Strike action would not affect the emergency service, but could leave needy people stranded at home or at hospital.

The result of the ballot is expected within the next two weeks.

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