Doctors announce five-day strike in November

"The British Medical Association has announced a fresh round of strikes in England after talks broke down again with the government. The union and government have been in dialogue throughout the summer and early autumn since the last walkout at the end of July. But the BMA said with no progress being made there would be a five-day walkout by resident doctors, the new name for junior doctors, starting on Friday 14 November."

"Health Secretary West Streeting has maintained throughout this year that he would not negotiate on pay after resident doctors, the new name for junior doctors, had received pay rises totalling nearly 30% in the past three years. The talks, therefore, had centred on career progression, working conditions and out-of-pocket expenses like exam fees. The union argues that, despite the pay rises, resident doctors' pay is still a fifth lower than it was in 2008, once inflation is taken into account."

"They have also said they wanted the government to address what they say is a shortage of jobs after the second year of training when resident doctors move into specialty training. This year there were more than 30,000 applicants for 10,000 jobs at this stage, although some will have been doctors from abroad. Alongside having a mandate to strike over pay, newly-qualified doctors in their first year of practice in England have also voted in favour of strike action over this shortage of jobs."

Resident doctors in England will undertake a five-day strike beginning 14 November after talks with the government broke down, marking the 13th industrial action in the pay dispute since March 2023. Negotiations focused on career progression, working conditions and out-of-pocket expenses such as exam fees after the government resisted further pay talks following nearly 30% pay rises over three years. The union says pay remains about a fifth lower than in 2008 once inflation is accounted for. The union also seeks action on a shortage of specialty training posts after year two, with over 30,000 applicants for 10,000 jobs this year. Resident doctors comprise nearly half the medical workforce.

Read at www.bbc.com