Faced with the demand for full pay restoration by the British Medical Association (BMA) in their long-running dispute, the Tory government has failed yet again to present a credible offer.
Consequently, the BMA has now announced a set of winter walkouts, covering nine days in total: 20-22 December and 3-8 January. If it goes ahead, this strike action would be the longest the NHS has ever seen.
Militancy pays
The resounding support for industrial action amongst BMA members in two consecutive strike ballots reflects junior doctors’ resolve.
Faced with hostility from the billionaire-owned press and a stubborn Tory government, junior doctors have refused to cave in to sub-inflation pay offers.
And thanks to continuing and escalating strike action, the Tories have raised their offer from nothing, originally, to around 10%. Militancy clearly pays!
Bad faith
Junior doctor strikes have been suspended since October, while BMA leaders negotiated with the government. But these talks turned out to be fruitless.
The lack of progress shows that the Tories were never interested in negotiating in good faith. This was simply a stalling technique – running down the clock until other disputes were settled, other unions were picked off, doctors’ energy was sapped, and new anti-strike legislation was passed.
As one doctor we spoke to put it: “It feels like we’re being strung along.”
This is only going to anger BMA members even further. We are not prepared to see our time wasted. Escalation of the strikes is therefore exactly the right course of action. 
This won’t be an easy ride. We must learn the lessons from the past period. Escalation alone will not be enough to win full pay restoration.
Momentum
Picket lines in October were significantly diminished compared to previous walkouts. This reflected demoralisation among certain layers.
When the strikes began, a massive campaign was launched. This included ward walks, seminars, and drop in sessions where doctors could engage in union activity. This has since died down.
Furthermore, the first round of action took place against the backdrop of rising industrial militancy across the public sector, with nurses, teachers, and rail workers all striking simultaneously. This has now tailed off, leaving doctors isolated.
Restoring the strike’s momentum must therefore be a top priority. BMA members are willing to fight – if they think victory is still within reach.
Where next?
These next round of strikes are a big statement, and shouldn’t be taken lightly. This latest action must be linked with a massive push to re-engage the rank and file in every hospital.
This campaign must also link up with striking radiographers, and encourage consultants to reject their rotten deal and join us on the picket lines. Unity is strength!
We’re also now contending with the Minimum Service Levels anti-union laws. These will allow employers to attack us by demanding that we scab on our own strike. This is absolutely unacceptable for any organised worker.
Pay restoration for doctors must therefore be strongly linked to a broader cross-union campaign to smash these Tory laws, and topple this government of the rich.
The stakes are high, but BMA members can rise to the challenge, as they have done before. Together we can win!
