Doctors Threaten Fresh Strike Action Over 'Woefully Inadequate' Government Pay Offer

Doctors have warned they are prepared to strike again after accusing the government of making a “woefully inadequate” pay offer.

The British Medical Association (BMA), which represents junior doctors, hit out after ministers said their salaries will increase by 4% this year.

Teachers’ leaders also reacted angrily after schools were told they would have to find savings to help fund their own 4% pay award.

Junior doctors staged a series of walkouts over pay under the last Tory government, but called them off after Labour awarded them pay rises following last year’s general election.

Professor Philip Banfield, chair of the BMA council, warned health secretary Wes Streeting that his members were willing to strike again unless he came up with more money.

He said: “The health secretary can avert strike action by negotiating with us and agreeing a route to full pay restoration.

“As it stands, resident doctors are vindicated for their decision to announce a ballot for industrial action opening later this month, because Mr Streeting is not, so far, committing to meaningfully restoring their pay.

“The BMA’s resident doctors committee’s response to this is clear: the only path that will avoid strike action is the one that leads doctors to full pay restoration.”

Other NHS workers in England, including nurses, midwives and physiotherapists, will receive a 3.6% pay uplift, effective from April 1, Streeting said.

Those who are represented by the GMB union and the Royal College of Nursing are to vote on whether to accept the award.

Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, warned the government there would be “cuts in service provision to children and young people, job losses, and additional workloads for an already overstretched profession”.

He added: “Unless the government commit to fully funding the pay rise then it is likely that the NEU will register a dispute with the government on the issue of funding, and campaign to ensure every parent understands the impact of a cut in the money available to schools, and that every politician understands this too.”

Paul Nowak, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, said: “Unions want to work with the government to address the recruitment and retention crisis gripping our public services – a crisis caused by 14 years of Conservative mismanagement and deliberate underinvestment.

“That means getting around the table to develop workforce plans for every area of the public sector.

“Ministers need to talk directly to unions to address the root causes behind dedicated and experienced public servants quitting their professions.

“And we need a clear, jointly agreed long-term strategy to improve public sector pay, alongside other crucial issues such as better working hours, more manageable workloads, and enhanced flexible working options.”