…By Henry George for TDPel Media.
Doctors in the National Health Service (NHS) in England are planning to continue their strike action, disregarding Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s announcement that a 6% pay increase is the government’s “final offer.”
While the Prime Minister managed to resolve the industrial dispute with teachers by offering a 6.5% pay deal based on recommendations from independent pay review bodies, he challenged other unions to recognize when to accept an agreement.
Junior Doctors’ Strike:
Junior doctors, who began their longest walkout in England on Thursday, will receive a 6% pay raise along with a consolidated increase of £1,250.
Despite this offer, hospital consultants, who are scheduled to strike next week, will also receive a 6% rise in their pay.
Chancellor Sunak, in a press conference at Downing Street, urged the British Medical Association (BMA) to cooperate in strengthening the NHS and preventing further disruptions caused by strikes.
Government’s Perspective:
Chancellor Sunak emphasized that the government’s decision on pay is accompanied by record funding for the NHS, the implementation of a fully funded long-term workforce plan, and a £1 billion pension tax cut, which addresses the BMA’s top request.
He questioned the justification for continued disruptive industrial action, as these strikes lead to the cancellation of tens of thousands of appointments daily and contribute to growing waiting lists.
BMA’s Criticism:
BMA chairman Professor Phil Banfield criticized the government, claiming that its actions are pushing doctors away from the NHS and the country as a whole.
He argued that the pay increase still falls short for tens of thousands of frontline staff and will do little to support an overworked and undervalued workforce suffering from burnout.
While consultants remain open to dialogue, the current offer is likely to result in continued industrial action.
Potential Escalation and Inflation Concerns:
The BMA warned that other doctors represented by the association, including general practitioners (GPs) and specialty doctors, may consider their next steps in response to the government’s offer.
There were initial concerns that the government might reject the recommendations of the pay review bodies to avoid deals that could contribute to high inflation.
With the current level of Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation at 8.7%, Chancellor Sunak aims to prevent pay increases that could fuel a wage-price spiral.
Government’s Final Stance and Funding Challenges:
Chancellor Sunak stated definitively that the current offer is the government’s final position and that no further negotiations on this year’s settlements will take place.
He emphasized that no amount of strikes will change this decision.
However, without additional borrowing to fund these deals, government departments will need to reprioritize spending, leading to concerns about potential cuts across public services.
Pay Deals for Other Sectors:
Based on the recommendations of independent review bodies, the government outlined various pay increases for other sectors, including a 7% rise for police officers, a 7% increase for prison officers in operational bands, a 5% increase for most armed forces personnel, and a 5.5% rise for senior civil servants.
Education Sector Agreement:
The 6.5% pay award for teachers will be fully funded, with additional funding allocated to schools in 2023-24 and 2024-25.
The Prime Minister and Education Secretary, along with education union leaders, issued a joint statement presenting the agreement as a way to end strike action and restore normal relations with the government.
Criticism and Concerns:
The Prospect union’s general secretary criticized the government, accusing it of cutting public services to fund these pay rises and displaying a lack of understanding from the austerity years.
The Liberal Democrat leader also condemned the government for damaging public services, while the Police Federation acknowledged the 7% rise as a step in the right direction but highlighted the significant real-term cut officers have experienced since 2000.