Junior doctors’ union takes ‘first steps’ for new strike mandate

THE British Medical Association has announced it will take the “first steps” towards securing a new ballot for industrial action — despite ongoing talks with the Government to resolve a pay dispute.

In a statement posted on Twitter last night, the BMA’s Junior Doctors Committee said the potential reballot would send the Government a “clear message” that they could not “run down the clock” until the union’s current mandate runs out. “Stay united — we’re here to stay,” it added.

The BMA, whose mandate runs until August, have not called further strikes since entering into negotiations with Health Secretary Steve Barclay last month.

Dr Emma Runswick, the BMA’s deputy chairwoman of council, described the negotiations as “talks about talks” but said she was “cautiously optimistic” they would lead to an agreement following months of deadlock.

Addressing MPs at the Health and Select Committee yesterday, she said: “It is positive, definitely positive and I’m optimistic about that, but the pace here is painfully slow.”

The union has called for a 35 per cent pay rise to address what they claim is a 26 per cent salary cut since 2008.

Separately, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) announced that a fresh ballot for strike action would begin on May 23 and run for a month.

It comes after members rejected a pay offer involving a one-off lump sum and a five per cent pay rise for next year.

The RCN said its new ballot would be aggregated, meaning it would have a mandate to strike in every NHS trust in England.

To achieve a countrywide mandate, half of all eligible members must vote and the majority must say “yes” to strike action.