this is bbc news i m tim willcox. the headlines at 2: thousands of ambulance workers across england and wales announce they will strike on december 21st in a dispute over pay. it comes as the rmt is accused of playing fast and loose with people s festive plans as more rail strikes were announced over the christmas period. i booked coaches for most of the christmas period to avoid being touched by the strikes. if they have to strike, they have strike, i know a lot of them don t want to, so more power to them, i guess. the conservative peer baroness mone takes a leave of absense from the house of lords following allegations about links to a ppe firm awarded a covid contract by the government. the national farmers union warns the uk is sleepwalking into a food supply crisis and calls
massive inconvenience for passengers and caused media intense discussion and caused media intense discussion and political mayhem and the governments tended to back down. now with the companies being paid a small amount to operate the network and the changes in passenger use and the fact that we are used to making other arrangements, the fact that we are used to making otherarrangements, in the fact that we are used to making other arrangements, in every corner of our lives, has blunted the power of our lives, has blunted the power of the strike as a tool and the government finds it easier to sit back and let it run its course. that does the rest of us no good at all, but it is a fact of life as to where we are. ., ., but it is a fact of life as to where we are. . ., .,, ., we are. can the train operating companies we are. can the train operating companies afford we are. can the train operating companies afford more - we are. can the train operating companies afford more than i we
it s been confirmed a new wave of strikes will go ahead. disputes between the rmt union and 14 train operating companies, as well as with network rail, show no signs of being resolved. at the centre of it all, this man, the union s general secretary, mick lynch. today, he defended himself before bbc listeners. you re not hurting the government and you re not hurting the train companies. you re hurting the people of the country that have to travel at christmas to see loved ones. well, maybe the government is hurting you. the government is hurting the public because they are imposing this on our members. what you ve got to remember about the train operating companies, the train operating companies will not lose a penny. the government is paying them every day that we go on strike. so i m trying to negotiate. the government isn t on strike. they ve got who ve got no desire or motivation to settle. as it stands, there ll be 48 hour
£29 million went into a trust of which she and her children were beneficiaries. baroness mone is facing an investigation by the standards commissioner. that is on hold it says, because it understands a criminal investigation is under way. labourwill try a criminal investigation is under way. labour will try and up the political pressure by trying to force the government to release all the documents that relate to the ppe deal. let s get more now on the ambulance strikes announced. the unite, unison and gmb unions said staff will walk out in most of england and wales on december 21st with further action planned on the 28th. i m joined now by the national secretary of the gmb union andy prendergast, which has many ambulance workers and nhs staff among its membership. what impact is this going to have on the strike days?
november caused by the problems the service already has. our members want to work for a service they can be proud of, they see a situation where it is not working and their wages are 20% lower than a decade ago. wages are 2096 lower than a decade auo. , , ~ wages are 2096 lower than a decade aro, , , ~ ., ~ wages are 2096 lower than a decade a u 0. , , ., ., , ago. this strike will make matters worse? we ago. this strike will make matters worse? we are ago. this strike will make matters worse? we are trying ago. this strike will make matters worse? we are trying to ago. this strike will make matters worse? we are trying to negotiate ago. this strike will make matters i worse? we are trying to negotiate on -a and worse? we are trying to negotiate on pay and our worse? we are trying to negotiate on pay and our members worse? we are trying to negotiate on pay and our members deserve - worse? we are trying to negotiate on pay and our members deserve a - worse? we are try