Young doctors will take part in the strike from the end of March, the British Medical Association (BMA) for Scotland has confirmed.
BMA Scotland’s young doctors committee is in a formal dispute with the Scottish government over what the union says is 15 years of wage erosion and believes a young doctor earns 23.5% less than if they were doing the same job in 2008.
Young doctors were offered a 4.5% raise, which they say is a pay cut in real terms.
Voting will run from March 29 to May 5.
That’s right, that’s the voting date for our juniors: March 29. You can read all the background here from @ChrisSmith2211
🗣️ “When the ballot envelopes drop, we want everyone to have a say. Don’t miss out: join the BMA, make your vote count and win.” https://t.co/OiVgo7jhga
— BMA Scotland (@BMAScotland) February 24, 2023
Chris Smith, chairman of the committee, said: “This is a significant moment for young doctors in Scotland and March 29 will be a very important day.
“Not only do we need the pay restoration to finally value our work properly, but we also need it to address the staffing crisis in our NHS.
“The first and easiest step towards this is to start negotiations with us on a clear plan for the restoration of wages, which would really be a down payment to ensure a sustainable future for the NHS.”
Dr Smith said the union had seen “no evidence” that the Scottish government is prepared to enter into formal negotiations on restoring full pay for junior doctors, and will meet the Scottish Health Secretary to discuss the theme soon.
Dr Smith added: “Based on our experience so far, I am not holding my breath.
“If the Scottish government wants to continue to play its line on no NHS strikes in Scotland, young doctors will need a quick and tangible change of direction.
“Our message is clear: the only way to resolve this dispute is direct and formal pay negotiations between BMA Scotland’s young doctors committee and the Scottish government, charged with tackling 15 years of pay erosion.”
Earlier, Dr Smith said some young doctors making “life and death decisions and staffing wards across the country” were earning a basic wage equivalent to around £14 an hour and warned that the situation was not sustainable.
Other NHS staff in Scotland, including nurses, paramedics and midwives, have been offered an average 6.5% raise, which Unison and Scotland’s Royal College of Nursing (RCN) have urged members to accept.
Under plans announced by Health Secretary Humza Yousaf last week, workers on the Agenda for Change pay scale will see increases, as well as a one-off payment of between £387 and £939, depending on the band they fall into. find.
Yousaf, who is fighting to become the next leader of the SNP and Scotland’s first minister, said if workers accept the deal they will be “by far the best paid in the UK”.
Under the proposals, those in band one, the lowest, will see their salary rise to £23,240 in 2023/24, an increase of 7.14%. They will also receive a one-time payment of £387.
Those in the highest nine band will see their salary increase by 3.33% in the next fiscal year.