England Resident Doctors Call 16th Strike for June 15-19 as Pay Row Persists
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 27
England Resident Doctors Call 16th Strike for June 15-19 as Pay Row Persists
1 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 27
A four-day walkout in England will run from June 15 to 19, marking resident doctors' 16th strike in the long-running pay dispute.
The BMA announced the action after talks with new Health Secretary James Murray, saying the government offered no new pay money and too little detail on jobs.
Ministers say resident doctors have already received a 33.4% pay rise over four years, including 3.5% this year, lifting starting salaries to just above £40,000 and senior basic pay to £76,500.
The union argues pay is still about 20% below 2008 levels after inflation, while Murray called demands for further substantial rises unrealistic and unaffordable.
The latest stoppage follows a six-day strike in April and keeps pressure on a new health leadership team that inherited the dispute from Murray's predecessor.
As the strike's cost hits £3 billion, who will blink first in the doctors' pay war?
Doctors demand higher pay, but is a looming job crisis the bigger threat to their future?