Junior doctors to strike three days a month
JUNIOR doctors are planning to inflict a summer of strike misery on patients in a row over pay.
The British Medical Association announced new walkouts last night starting with the first of a series of three-day strikes from June 14 to 17.
The union said the Government’s offer of a five per cent rise was not “credible”. It is demanding a 35 per cent increase after what it says are 15 years of below-inflation pay rises.
Dr Vivek Trivedi and Dr Robert Laurenson, of the BMA, said: “We made clear from the very start that talks required a recognition of the scale of our pay erosion. No such recognition has been forthcoming.
“This was made clear when they finally made their pay offer of five per cent. Not only is that nowhere near addressing pay erosion over the last 15 years, it would not even have matched inflation this year.”
The union added: “And if the Government doesn’t change their position, we will strike throughout the summer.This means we will call a minimum of three days of action every month for the duration of our mandate for industrial action.”
A Government source said: “We’ve been talking for about three weeks and we’re very disappointed that this has happened.
“They were unwilling to shift from their demands for a 35 per cent increase. At one point they wanted a 49 per cent increase as part of a multi-year deal.”
Junior doctors in Scotland have been offered a 14.5 per cent rise over the two-year period 2022-24.
Michael Matheson, Scottish Health Secretary, said: “It’s now up to junior doctors to reflect on this final offer.”
Final
If accepted, it will be a 6.5 per cent pay rise in 2023/24, as well as an additional three per cent towards an agreed 4.5 per cent uplift in 2022/23.
Meanwhile, almost 300,000 nursing staff will be balloted from today on whether to take more strike action over the next six months. The ballot will close on June 23.
Pat Cullen, the Royal College of Nursing general secretary, said: “This is unfinished business and the Government can get it resolved without the need for more strike action.”