Senior doctors in England vote on whether to strike over their pay | British News

Senior NHS doctors across England will begin voting today on whether to go on strike over pay.

Talks have been held with the government to try and settle the longstanding dispute, but deadlock remains, says Dr. Vishal Sharma, Chair of the BMA Advisory Committee.

“We’ve seen our gross wages fall by 35% since 2008/2009, and that’s before even factoring in the impact of this year’s rapid inflation,” he said on behalf of advisers.

“As a result, consultants now work four months a year for free.”

“Even this weekend, we remained confident that we would secure a salary offer that would help somewhat offset the decline that we have seen.”

But with inflation remaining “in double digits,” he said, the government’s latest offer still represents a wage cut in real terms.

dr Sharma added: “Given 15 years of our wages falling, we simply could not accept a deal that continued this downward trend and had no choice but to proceed with the vote on industrial action today.”

He said the advisers did not want to take industrial action, adding: “Ultimately, the government has taken a political decision to cut our wages again this year and unless we are able to secure a pledge, the government will take the necessary steps to recover ours.” Restore wages in the long run.” “In the long run, we simply cannot accept an offer that lowers our pay any further.”

dr Sharma has previously said that the “NHS is on its knees” and “senior doctors are reducing their hours or leaving the NHS in droves because unfair pension tax rules and brutal pay cuts are driving them from their favorite jobs”.

Voting is open Monday through June 27 and BMA is urging members to vote “yes.”

The vote follows a series of strikes over pay this year by NHS rescue workers, nurses and young doctors.

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