Dr Emma Runswick, deputy chair of the council of the British Medical Association and a doctor in psychiatry, says stick together and win together
Doctors across the UK are campaigning for full pay restoration. We deserve to be paid the same in real terms as doctors earned in 2008.
Across the grades, we have lost 21-35% in real terms. Our compulsory costs have risen with inflation – not just housing, food and fuel, but childcare for 24-hour rota patterns, mandatory General Medical Council and Royal College fees and exam fees. Many of us carry over £100k of student debt.
Pay cuts have driven many thousands of doctors to leave the UK: to Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East and even Ireland, where wages are double those here.
We have smashed ballots for “junior” doctors in all four nations, consultants and speciality and specialist doctors (SAS) in England and Wales, with Northern Ireland soon to follow.
In Scotland, doctors won 17.5% and a commitment to above-inflation pay awards for three years. In England, we have taken 42 days of strike action. We have shifted the government position from 0% and no talks, to 3%, 5%, 6% + one-off £1,500, and most recently to approximately 12%. We will push all UK governments further, to offer doctors a route to pay restoration.
Firefighters can help by visiting pickets (see strikemap.org), donating to the strike fund (bmastrikefund. raisely.com) and fighting your own disputes.
Workers in safety-critical professions can stick together, strike together and win together. Solidarity.
