https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-63371669?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGAMore than 15,000 ambulance workers across 11 trusts in England and Wales have started voting on potential strike action in a dispute over pay.
The GMB union said workers were angry at a pay award of 4% which it described as a "massive real terms pay cut".
Emergency callouts would not be affected by any action, it added.
The government, which said it had given pay rises to more than a million workers, is urging ambulance staff to consider the impact on patients.
GMB acting national secretary Rachel Harrison said: "Ambulance workers don't do this lightly. This would be the biggest ambulance strike for 30 years.
"After more than 10 years of pay cuts, plus the cost-of-living crisis, workers can't make ends meet. They are desperate".
The GMB union previously said
any action could take place before Christmas.
NHS workers in other unions, including nurses, are also being asked if they want to take strike action over pay.
