Strikes update: How Monday 20 February’s walkouts will affect you

Zoe Conway striking ambulances composite picture

By Zoe Conway

Employment correspondent

Strikes by health workers in England and Wales are set to intensify over the coming weeks. More NHS staff, at more trusts, are joining the dispute.

On Monday, ambulance workers are walking out of the ambulance trust in Wales and seven of the ten ambulance trusts in England.

Two unions are involved – Unite and the GMB. Members of Unite will then continue their ambulance strike in Wales on Tuesday and Wednesday.

In Scotland, where all health strikes are suspended, a new pay offer of 14% over two years is now on the table.

The strike by Border Force officials at Dover, Calais, Dunkirk and the Coquelles Channel Tunnel Terminal ended at 07:00 GMT this morning. Travellers are still being warned to expect disruption this morning due to the knock-on effects.

You can read more or watch this report about why people are taking strike action, and below you can find information on how it could affect you.

Upcoming strike action

SUN

19

FEB

Border Force

Border Force staff at the Port of Calais, Port of Dunkirk, Coquelles Channel Tunnel Terminal and the Port of Dover are taking industrial action
The strike only affects international inbound travel to the UK

MON

20

FEB

Ambulance staff

Ambulance staff in the Unite union in Wales and several regions of England, and the GMB union in parts of England, are on strike
The strike affects non-life threatening calls only and people are advised to use the 999 service in an emergency

Border Force

Border Force staff at the Port of Calais, Port of Dunkirk, Coquelles Channel Tunnel Terminal and the Port of Dover are taking industrial action
The strike only affects international inbound travel to the UK only
The industrial action is due to end at around 07:00 GMT

TUE

21

FEB

Ambulance staff

Ambulance staff in the Unite union in Wales are on strike
The strike affects non-life threatening calls only and people are advised to use the 999 service in an emergency

Teachers in Northern Ireland

The majority of teachers in Northern Ireland are holding a half-day strike
Many schools across the country are not expected to open until after midday

WED

22

FEB

Ambulance staff

Ambulance staff in the Unite union in Wales and the North West region of England are on strike
The strike affects non-life threatening calls only and people are advised to use the 999 service in an emergency

THU

23

FEB

There are currently no national strikes planned for this date

FRI

24

FEB

There are currently no national strikes planned for this date

SAT

25

FEB

There are currently no national strikes planned for this date

SUN

26

FEB

There are currently no national strikes planned for this date

MON

27

FEB

There are currently no national strikes planned for this date

TUE

28

FEB

Teachers who are members of the EIS, NASUWT and SSTA unions are on strike
The industrial action is expected to affect thousands of schools across Scotland

Nurses in England

Members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) are taking industrial action over pay
For the first time, the strike will involved some nursing staff working in emergency departments, intensive care units, cancer care and other services that were previously exempted.

Nurses in England

Members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) are taking industrial action over pay
For the first time, the strike will involved some nursing staff working in emergency departments, intensive care units, cancer care and other services that were previously exempted.

Teachers in Wales

Teachers in Wales who are members of the National Education Union are taking industrial action over pay
It is expected that hundreds of schools will be affected

Nurses in England

Members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) are taking industrial action over pay
For the first time, the strike will involved some nursing staff working in emergency departments, intensive care units, cancer care and other services that were previously exempted.
Strike action will end at 06:00GMT

Ambulance staff

Ambulance staff in the GMB and Unite unions in several regional services across England and from Unite in Wales are on strike
The strike affects non-life threatening calls only and people are advised to use the 999 service in an emergency

TUE

7

MAR

There are currently no national strikes planned for this date

WED

8

MAR

There are currently no national strikes planned for this date

THU

9

MAR

There are currently no national strikes planned for this date

FRI

10

MAR

There are currently no national strikes planned for this date

SAT

11

MAR

There are currently no national strikes planned for this date

SUN

12

MAR

There are currently no national strikes planned for this date

Which ambulance staff are striking?

Ambulance staff in the Unite and GMB unions in Wales and several regions of England are striking on Monday.

The strike affects calls that are not life-threatening only and people are advised to call 999 in an emergency.

Ambulances will still be sent to the most life-threatening calls – known as Category 1, which includes cardiac arrests.

Patients that need time-critical treatment, such as kidney or cancer care, will also be transported.

Less urgent calls – known as Category 2, which includes some strokes and major burns – might have to wait longer than usual for an ambulance.

Call 999 If you are seriously ill or injured, or your life is in danger
For all other healthcare needs, contact the 111 helpline, your local GP or pharmacy
Attend appointments as planned. The NHS has said it will contact anyone whose appointment has to be rescheduled due to the strike

Border Force strikes

Border Force staff ended their four-day strike at 07:00 GMT on Monday.

The strike only affected international inbound travel to the UK. The PCS union said 1,000 of its members had been expected to walk out at the ports of Calais, Dunkirk and Dover, and the Coquelles Channel Tunnel Terminal, over the four days.

Military personnel and civil servants have been on standby to step in and carry out border checks.

Nevertheless, the government warned people should prepare their families for longer waiting times at border control.

People were told to use e-gates where possible, and check with operators before travelling.

On Saturday, coach passengers returning to the UK faced queues of more than six hours at border checkpoints in Calais, although the Home Office rejected claims that the strikes had affected waiting times.

Additional reporting by Noor Nanji

How are you affected by the strikes? Are you taking part in strike action? You can email: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

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