A junior doctor on the picket outside University College Hospital during April’s strike (Picture: Vuk Valcic/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
As the summer of discontent continues, junior doctors in England begin their next strike today (Wednesday, June 14) over pay and conditions – but how long will it last this time?
June is seeing industrial action in a range of sectors, including refuse workers, train drivers and civil servants, and the UK’s railways were almost reduced to a standstill, impacting events such as the FA Cup final.
Security staff at Heathrow are also due to walk out for 29 days this summer starting mid-June, piling on misery for those travelling – who have also been hit by a French air traffic control strike.
Further walkouts by teachers this summer and autumn are also on the cards.
The junior doctors’ strike is expected to cause ‘major disruption’ according to NHS Providers – during their last four-day strike in April, an estimated 350,000 appointments (including operations) are said to have been cancelled.
So why are junior doctors striking and how long will this strike last?
Here’s what you need to know.
How long will the junior doctors strike last?
The next junior doctors’ strike will begin at 7am today, Wednesday, June 14.
The picket line outside St Thomas’ Hospital in London in April (Picture: Jamel Smith/PA Wire Photographer)
It will last for 72 hours, ending at 7am on Saturday, June 17.
The British Medical Association (BMA) said strike action will go ahead after the government failed to make a ‘credible offer’ on pay.
Will there be more strikes?
The BMA has warned that more strikes by junior doctors could continue throughout the summer unless agreement is reached.
Junior doctors want their salaries to be ‘fully restored’ after years of effective cuts (Picture: BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)
It is also balloting hospital consultants on industrial action, which would take place on July 20 and 21.
On the junior doctors’ dispute, the union added: ‘If the Government doesn’t change their position, we will strike throughout the summer. This means we will call a minimum of three days of action every month for the duration of our mandate for industrial action.’
Why are doctors striking?
Essentially, the strike is over pay.
The BMA is seeking ‘a deal that fully restores pay for junior doctors after the more than 26% drop they have suffered over the last 15 years’.
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The union has been asking for a 35% increase to make up for 15 years of below-inflation rises.
A government spokesperson called the new pay offer ‘fair and reasonable’, and said it was ‘surprising and deeply disappointing’ that the BMA had declared further strikes while ‘talks were ongoing’.
Dr Vivek Trivedi and Dr Robert Laurenson, co-chairs of the BMA Junior Doctors Committee, said that since April’s strikes, they have had three weeks of negotiations with the government.
‘In the end, however, the Government would simply not accept the fundamental reality of the pay cuts junior doctors have faced.
‘This was made clear when they finally made their pay offer of 5%.’
‘Not only is that nowhere near addressing pay erosion over the last fifteen years, it would not even have matched inflation this year. We are not in these meetings to agree to have our pay cut further, and the Government knows that. This was simply not a credible offer.’
In Scotland, junior doctors have been offered a new 14.5% pay rise over a two-year period after negotiations with the Scottish government, and BMA members there are currently voting on whether to accept it.
MORE : Are there any more train strikes planned for June 2023?
MORE : When is the next London bus strike? June 2023 dates and affected routes
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A 72-hour walkout begins today