WELSH ambulance workers will be balloted for strike action over pay, which could hit the service over Christmas, their union said today.

Unison Cymru said the ballot opens tomorrow over a below-inflation wage increase for 2025/26.

The Welsh government’s decision earlier this year to implement the Pay Review Body’s recommended 3.6 per cent increase is below the current rate of inflation of 3.8 per cent.

Unison Cymru’s head of health Tanya Bull said: “NHS workers in Wales are angry that a 3.6 per cent pay rise still leaves them struggling to afford the basics.”

The union said the lowest-paid NHS workers have been excluded from workplace schemes to help pay go further, such as salary sacrifice options for buying a car, bike or household essentials.

“Wages are so poor that if they took part their hourly rates would be below the minimum wage. That’s led to them being excluded completely,” Ms Bull said.

A Welsh government spokesperson said: “We have accepted in full the pay recommendations made by the independent NHS Pay Review Body.”