Doctors in England went on strike Tuesday, April 7th for the 15th time in just over three years, escalating a bitter dispute with the government over pay and jobs.
The six-day stoppage involves resident doctors, i.e. those below consultant level previously known as junior doctors, who are pressing for higher wages to offset inflation-related losses.
The strike follows a previous agreement in which doctors secured a 28.9% pay increase over three years after earlier industrial action. Despite this, the British Medical Association, which represents the striking doctors, demands full pay restoration to 2008 levels.
The UK government has repeatedly said that in the current economic environment it is impossible to meet their demands.
Health Minister Wes Streeting condemned the strike, calling the doctors the “standout winners” of public sector pay rises and criticizing the union for rejecting the government’s latest offer of 4.9%. Streeting warned the stoppage would cost the National Health Service approximately £300 million (€348 million).
