‘Something needs to change’
“We need to carry on striking, because something needs to change. Otherwise junior doctors will continue to move abroad to better pay, or into career paths with less stress or better working environments and more respect. The current state of the NHS disincentivises the next generation of students from becoming doctors.”
Those are the words of a recently qualified junior doctor, ahead of the latest 72-hour strike by junior doctor members of the British Medical Association (BMA), starting on 14 June. This latest strike comes a week after Royal College of Nursing (RCN) members walked out again in Wales on 6-7 June, and a week before RCN members in England find out the result of their latest strike vote on 23 June, this time on an aggregated basis.
71% of junior doctors in Scotland have voted to reject an offer of 14.5% over two years from the Scottish government and will strike on 12 and 15 July if an improved offer isn’t made.
Ambulance workers in Unite working for West Midlands Ambulance Service took strike action on 12 June, and Yorkshire ambulance workers will strike on 23 and 26 June.
Health-worker anger is not abating, and neither is the level of crisis in the NHS. Waiting lists continue to grow, and more workers yet to have taken part in the strike wave could still join. Society of Radiographers members are voting on whether to strike in a ballot closing 28 June.
The strike wave in the health service, like elsewhere, is far from over. And the Tory government is more weak and divided than ever.
What better time for rank-and-file workers, from across the trade unions, to come together and discuss a strategy for the strikes going forward? To plan what is needed to win fully funded inflation-proof pay rises and a fighting response to the incoming new anti-trade union laws.
The National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN) conference on 24 June in London will bring together hundreds of fighting trade unionists from the strike wave. Be part of those discussions. Register to attend on the day or in advance by visiting tinyurl.com/5n8jj2wf
