FRONTLINE staff at the North-East Ambulance Service last night rejected a controversial pay deal on meal breaks.
In a consultation ballot, the ambulance workers - all members of the union Unison - voted by an overwhelming majority not to accept a £1,500 annual payment to volunteer to be available during meal breaks.
The ballot comes at the end of a two-year row over the issue of unpaid meal breaks, following the new NHS pay system, Agenda for Change.
Unison regional officer Dave Armstrong said: "Our members obviously feel that the trust's offer is an inadequate measure in providing a full emergency ambulance service to the people of the region."
Simon Featherstone, chief executive of the North-East Ambulance Service, said: "I am bitterly disappointed by this result. I feel that this is a generous offer, which is comparable with what I have seen made by other ambulance service trusts in the UK."
The ambulance service and the union will meet today to discuss the issue.
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