BMA suspends strike action for talks with WG
BMA Cymru Wales has suspended forthcoming industrial action for Consultants and SAS (Specialist and Specialty) doctors following a constructive meeting with the Welsh government to resolve its pay disputes.
As a result of sustained pressure, including three rounds of industrial action by junior doctors in Wales, the Welsh Government has made a significant proposal to form the basis of talks to end the pay disputes with all secondary care doctors, including Consultants, SAS and Junior doctors.
Since the meeting last week, the committees representing doctors from all three branches of practice have voted to enter pay negotiations based on this proposal.
The planned 48-hour strike by consultants and SAS doctors, which was to start on April 16, has now been suspended.
Junior doctors have paused plans to announce more strike dates whilst they enter negotiations with the Welsh Government.
The Welsh Junior Doctors Committee, Welsh SAS Committee and Welsh Consultants Committee will now engage in pay negotiations to reach deals which can be taken separately to their respective members.
Dr Oba Babs Osibodu and Dr Peter Fahey, co-chairs of the BMA’s Welsh Junior Doctors Committee, said: “This is a significant step forward. Sadly, we had to take industrial action to get here. Still, we are proud of members for demonstrating their resolve to pursue a fair deal for the profession.
“Although we are optimistic and hope to resolve our dispute quickly, we remain steadfast in achieving pay restoration. Until we reach a deal, nothing is off the table.
“We will continue to work hard to reach a credible offer to members who will ultimately have the final say.”
Dr Stephen Kelly, chair of BMA Cymru Wales’ Consultants committee, said: “The Welsh Government’s recent efforts to reach an end to the pay dispute are encouraging, and so we have called off our planned strike for now whilst we allow time and space for negotiations to take place.
“We’re hopeful that we can reach a deal that sufficiently addresses years of erosion to our pay to help retain senior doctors in Wales but we remain ready to strike if we’re unable to do so during negotiations.”
Dr Ali Nazir, chair of BMA Cymru Wales’ SAS doctor committee, said: “As a committee, we felt that this latest development goes someway to understanding the strength of feeling of our members. We will work hard to reach a settlement that sufficiently meets the expectations of our colleagues who have faced real-term pay cuts of up to a third since 2008/9.”
In August last year, the BMA’s committees representing secondary care doctors in Wales voted to enter into separate trade disputes with the Welsh Government after being offered another belowinflation pay uplift of just 5% for the 23/24 financial year.
SAS doctors on some contracts were offered as little as 1.5%.
The Welsh Government’s offer was the lowest pay offer any government in the UK made, and it was less than the DDRB, the pay review body for doctors and dentists, recommended last year.
As part of their disputes, SAS doctors, consultants, and junior doctors carried out successful ballots for industrial action.
Since January this year, junior doctors in Wales have participated in 10 days of industrial action.
Vaughan Gething said: “We recognise the strength of feeling among BMA members and that industrial action is never taken lightly.
“This is a government that listens and engages to find solutions. I prioritised a meeting with the BMA directly alongside the Cabinet Secretary for Health to reinforce our commitment to that partnership approach.
“We currently face the most severe financial situation in the devolution era, making our task far harder.
“Despite that backdrop, we have worked to identify a way forward that I hope will lead to the successful resolution of this dispute and ensure that doctors can return to work in NHS Wales.”
Cabinet Secretary for Health Eluned Morgan added: “Even in these very challenging circumstances, we have worked in social partnership with the BMA and NHS to maintain patent safety during industrial action.
“But the strikes have been very disruptive to the delivery of NHS services – none of us want to see doctors on strike.
“I am pleased the three BMA committees have agreed to pause further industrial action and begin formal talks with Welsh Government and hope we can bring an end to this dispute.”