Junior doctors in the UK will begin a week-long strike today, an extension of their months-long protest and the “longest ever doctors strike” in the country. The offer ends next Tuesday.
They argue their aggressive behavior as follows: While workloads and waiting lists have reached record levels, salaries for doctors in training have fallen by more than a quarter since 2008.
“The crippling cost of living crisis, burnout and rising wages below inflation threaten to drive hardworking doctors out of the profession at a time when we need them more than ever. If trainee doctors are forced to leave the NHS because of their poor pay and conditions it will be to the detriment of the services we rely on.” We all have to take care of our loved ones.”
According to junior doctors, the government's offer to fulfill their wishes is largely insufficient.
The government says a “junior doctor” earns around £32,000 (€37,000) in their first year of work. The BMA (British Medical Association) trade union, which represents 46,000 trainee doctors, says their wages have fallen by a quarter since 2008, taking inflation into account.
The government negotiated in the fall to try to defuse the situation before winter. A 3% pay rise was promised in early December, on top of the 8.8% average given in the summer. But the BMA says the government is “unable to present a credible proposal” that would address the loss of purchasing power.
The United Kingdom has witnessed many strikes since mid-2022 as a result of the purchasing power crisis. The inflation rate has been above 10 percent for a long time. However, it recently declined to 3.9% in November.
About half of the trainee doctors are said to have joined the strike, according to the BBC. The current measure is limited to England itself. Scottish doctors have already reached an agreement. Another is scheduled to take place in Wales later this year.
In this video they explain the reasons for their dissatisfaction and their recent actions.
English paramedics strike again
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