England: young doctors on strike again in the middle of the legislative campaign

Junior public sector doctors in England begin an eleventh five-day strike on Thursday to demand pay rises, putting pressure on the next government a week before the July 4 general election.

Their British Medical Association (BMA) union had hinted at the possibility of canceling this strike in the middle of the electoral campaign if the conservative government of Rishi Sunak had committed to increasing the salaries of these doctors, of whom there are nearly 70,000 in England.

He also warned that other strikes could take place this summer if negotiations with the next government do not advance “in a timely manner”.

This eleventh movement of “junior doctors”, whose status is comparable to that of interns in France, once again highlights the crisis in the public health system (NHS), one of the major issues of these legislative elections.

It comes at a time when the NHS is experiencing a hemorrhage of health professionals and is struggling to absorb the gigantic waiting lists of patients for treatment or surgery.

The BMA also revealed that it had begun talks with the Labour Party, which is leading the polls and is expected to form the next British government barring any surprises.

Wes Streeting, who would become health minister if Labor is elected, has promised to open negotiations the day after the election if his party is victorious on July 4.

The junior doctors, who make up almost half of all doctors in England, began their strike more than a year and a half ago. In January, they held their longest strike in the history of the NHS, with six consecutive days of walkouts.

A banner on Westminster Bridge to support the strike of young doctors demanding better pay and working conditions, on June 27, 2024 in London (AFP/HENRY NICHOLLS)

The BMA wants a 35% catch-up, taking into account the drop in purchasing power due to inflation, to serve as a starting point for discussions.

Wes Streeting has already indicated that he would not grant such an increase all at once, but that there was “space to open a discussion” on their remuneration and the improvement of their working conditions.

In early April, senior doctors or “consultants” in the NHS accepted an offer from the government, ending a historic strike that had also seriously disrupted the functioning of the health system.

© 2024 AFP

Did you like this article? Share it with your friends using the buttons below.