Junior doctors will ‘strike again’ if not they’re given more money in future despite 22% raise
Junior doctors will strike once again if a “full pay restoration” is not awarded – despite already receiving a 22 per cent rise, a senior official at the British Medical Association (BMA) has said.
It comes after members voted in favour of a 22.3 per cent deal over two years.
However, Dr Vivek Trivedi said that the deal was a “compromise” and “the first step towards our goal” to have full pay restoration.
The junior doctors’ committee co-chairman said that the Government could “find doctors back in dispute” if their demands are not met.
“Mr [Wes] Streeting has talked about our pay falling behind inflation, and has talked about a journey to fair pay, and sees that journey occurring via the independent pay review bodies awarding their regular annual uplifts.
“And he wants to restore confidence in that process, which doctors don’t have for a number of reasons.
“But if that process does play out the way he envisages, the way that maybe it used to in the past, and that does inspire the confidence of doctors, then of course, there’s no reason for doctors to go back into dispute over pay and strike again.
“But if that doesn’t happen, and the Government does not correct that, and does not continue our journey to full pay restoration, which is what doctors have been calling for to keep their colleagues here so that medicine can remain an attractive profession in this country, then the Government will find doctors back in dispute.”
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He added: “This offer puts a doctor who was before this, earning £15 an hour only on £17 now, which of course is an improvement, and it does mark the start of that journey, but the journey’s not over.”
Dr Robert Laurenson, another BMA representative has also called for an above-inflation pay rise.
He said: “I think the Government’s come into a position, into power, where they’ve got themselves in a pig-headed aptitude, where they think that they’re making tough decisions rather than the right decision.
“The Government needs a period of time to understand the ramifications of their decisions, and that this deal, because it has no security for the future, it won’t solve the retention crisis.
“What we’re saying is that if the Government doesn’t make significant progress towards pay restoration, then we need to be in a position to hold them accountable.”
After announcing the deal, Health Secretary, Streeting said: “I am pleased that our offer has been accepted, ending the strikes ahead of looming winter pressures on the NHS.
“This marks the necessary first step in our mission to cut waiting lists, reform the broken health service, and make it fit for the future.”