Calay News
In the United Kingdom, thousands of junior doctors are staging a three-day strike in protest over their pay and working conditions. This is considered the largest protest by medical professionals in the history of the National Health Service. The British Medical Association, which represents recent graduates and those with years of frontline experience, is calling for a 35% increase in their salaries, arguing that there have been pay cuts of up to 26% since 2008.
The association’s request, called “salary restoration,” is due to the high cost of living, the current economic crisis, inflation, and declining working conditions. Although meetings have taken place between the association and ministers and government officials in recent weeks, no formal talks on payments have been reached, and state representatives have expressed their disagreement with the doctors’ demands.
Meanwhile, the government is attempting to reach an agreement with the 14 health unions that represent non-medical NHS employees such as nurses, midwives, ambulance personnel, and physiotherapists. A bonus has been offered for this year, 2023, plus a 4.75% pay rise and another larger increase next year. Demonstrations scheduled for earlier this month were suspended pending negotiations.
In summary, junior doctors in the UK are holding a three-day strike in protest over their pay and working conditions, arguing that there have been pay cuts since 2008. The government is working to reach an agreement with the health unions to avoid further demonstrations and has offered bonuses and pay rises over the next few years.
