Junior doctors’ strike: organise to kill off Hunt’s contract


As we go to press, Junior doctors are due to take another round of strike action – this time for 48 hours, on 9 and 10 March with more dates planned in April – against Jeremy Hunt and the Tories who are imposing a contract which will remove safeguards to them working more unsocial hours, and for less pay. Bill Mullins attended a meeting on 3 March organised by junior doctors at Kings College Hospital, south London:

There are over 800 junior doctors at Kings College Hospital in south London where the junior doctors committee organised a meeting to explain to the local community what their dispute was about and to appeal for support.

Junior doctor Chris explained the battle that the doctors are in with the government over the imposed contracts: “The next five years will be bleak and could see the end of the NHS if we are not successful.” He added “we need community support to defend the core principals of a free health service at the point of need, involving not just junior doctors but also nurses and all other health workers.”

Will Nash, a trainee physiatrist, explained: “8,000 junior doctors have applied to leave to go abroad as a result of the contract imposition, this is equivalent to £1 billion worth of training.”

Rudi, about to finish her training as a consultant oncologist, said: “In a survey of oncologists 97% said the new contract would affect care and 57% said they would seriously consider leaving the profession. Hunt won’t be able to ignore the 57,000 junior doctor opposition to his plans much longer”.

The junior doctors had invited Tony from the campaign to defend Lewisham Hospital which had been successfully won.

Magnus Dewsbury, on behalf of the Socialist Party, asked people to take away a model resolution from the National Shop Stewards Network to take to local trade union branches and workplaces.

It was agreed that there should be a local support group set up from the community as well as junior doctors from Kings going out to local workplaces and trade union branches to explain their case to the wider working class.

See www.socialistparty.org.uk for picket line reports