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England's Doctors Poised for Six More Months of Strike Action
28 Nov
Summary
- Resident doctors in England will vote on extending strike mandates.
- The current mandate expires in January, potentially extending to August 2026.
- The dispute centers on pay erosion and lack of job security for doctors.
Resident doctors in England are preparing to vote on whether to extend their mandate for industrial action. The current mandate for strikes is set to expire in January, but a successful ballot could see it prolonged until August 2026. The BMA highlighted that a new mandate should not be necessary if a fair deal on jobs and pay had been reached earlier.
The union is seeking a plan for gradual pay increases over several years and common-sense reforms to ensure job security, aiming to prevent doctors from facing unemployment. The BMA expressed disappointment that the government's response, including an additional offer, only came after industrial action was announced.
The ballot for extending the strike mandate will run from December 8 to February 2. Doctors will be asked if they are prepared to take further action over concerns regarding job availability and significant pay erosion. While doctors prefer patient care over picket lines, they are willing to continue disruptions if it means achieving necessary reforms from the government.
