Hundreds of British troops will be deployed to cover for ambulance drivers and border staff as ministers seek to mitigate disruptions caused by industrial action.
Arrangements have been made for 1,200 members of the armed forces to plug staffing gaps in the health service and the Border Force during strikes over the Christmas and New Year period, the Cabinet Office announced on Dec. 17.
Some 600 military personnel will be working as ambulance drivers and a further 150 will be providing logistical support, as ambulance crews in England are due to walk out for two days on Dec. 21 and 28 in a row over pay.
Members of the armed forces will also join more than 1,000 civil servants to cover for striking Border Force staff, as members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union walk out for eight days from Dec. 23 until New Year’s Eve….