Why it matters: The potential industrial action would affect frontline ambulance staff across the region, including those serving Ipswich and Suffolk, as workers resist changes they believe could harm both patient care and their working lives.
The details: The East of England Ambulance Service Trust has proposed introducing team-based working, which would involve redesigning rotas and potentially ending long-term crew partnerships that have developed over years or even decades.
The proposals have also raised concerns that staff could be moved to different ambulance stations as part of the restructuring.
An indicative ballot showed overwhelming opposition to the plans, with 80% of participating members voting in favour of industrial action on an 80% turnout.
What they're saying: Ashley Foster, GMB regional organiser, said: "Our members are worried about the impact these changes could have on patient safety and their working relationships. We have explained our members' concerns to the Trust, but we cannot force them to listen."
He added: "Ultimately, the Trust must decide between their vanity project and staff welfare. We just hope logic prevails and there is no need for industrial action."
One EEAST worker, who has worked with the same crewmate for a decade, said: "I know what my crewmate will do before they do it, and it's that level of trust and understanding that lets us work so efficiently. I do not understand why they are doing this to us - EEAST just keep saying it will make us happier, but they will not listen to us when we tell them we don't want it."
The worker added, "I've worked on an ambulance all my working life, but if this goes through, I'm done with it."
The other side: Neill Moloney, chief executive at EEAST, said the trust understands the concerns raised and is "committed to working closely with our staff and unions to get this right".
He said: "Team-based working is being designed to better support our people, ensuring everyone has access to a compassionate manager and is part of a supportive, collaborative team. We are actively engaging with our people to shape this approach together, aiming to minimise disruption and preserve strong working relationships."
Moloney emphasised: "Above all, patient safety remains our top priority. Any changes will be carefully planned to ensure we continue delivering the highest standards of care."
For context: The trust says the changes aim to address feedback from the national NHS Staff Survey, where staff said they wanted more support from managers and to feel valued by their team. Over a third of EEAST staff currently work "on relief", meaning they do not receive fixed shift patterns until nine weeks in advance.
What's next: Talks are ongoing to avoid industrial action, but the union has warned that if no progress is made, strike ballots could be sent to members before the end of September.
The bottom line: More than 1,000 ambulance workers across the East of England face potentially significant changes to their working lives, with unions warning that patient safety could be compromised if long-established crew partnerships are broken up.
