AMBULANCE workers in Unite the Union went on strike for six hours on Friday and more action is planned on Tuesday.

Fifty-four union members, set to be at work, took part in the industrial action, Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust has confirmed.

The trusts’ Ian Brandwood said: “Although this represents little more than one per cent of our total workforce, we remain deeply concerned that a trade union representing ambulance service workers chooses to strike in this way.

“It is very important to point out that Unite the Union balloted its members for industrial action in relation to a dispute over de-recognition and not patient safety as they claim.

“I would like to thank the vast majority of our A&E staff, including a number of Unite members, who worked as normal yesterday to care for our patients. We would like to reassure the public that we have robust contingency plans in place for Tuesday’s proposed period of industrial action and are committed to minimising disruption to our services.”