Ambulance staff and paramedics win full COVID sick pay

Ambulance workers and paramedics in the West Midlands have won full Covid sick pay after a GMB campaign.  

Official NHS guidance states workers should be paid in full, including average overtime, whilst isolating due to coronavirus.  

Until now, workers at West Midlands Ambulance Service had to scrape by on limited sick pay while self-isolating - but will now be receiving an average of their overtime too.  

Payments will be backdated to the beginning of the pandemic in February 2020 following the successful campaign by GMB members.  

Kirsty Hackney, GMB Regional Organiser said:  Frontline ambulance workers have taken power in the workplace and won material gains for themselves and their co-workers  

"Our ambulance service branch fought ceaselessly to make sure no worker is punished for self-isolating  

"Their strength as united workers means they can get on with the job of defeating Covid and saving lives."