Resident docs in Scotland have voted to go on strike in January – as their union referred to as on the devolved authorities to current a “credible” pay supply.
The British Medical Affiliation (BMA) Scotland introduced on Friday that 92% of its members who voted within the poll have been in favour of the commercial motion. The turnout was 58%.
The strikes are scheduled to begin at 7am on Tuesday 13 January, and finish at 7am on Saturday 17 January – except progress is made in pay talks.
The announcement comes amid an ongoing strike action by resident doctors in England, which started on Wednesday and can final till Monday.
Chris Smith, chair of the BMA Scottish resident docs committee, mentioned its members have been “united in anger”, and claimed the Scottish authorities had reneged on a pay deal it agreed two years in the past.
He mentioned: “We’re merely asking for the federal government to ship on what they beforehand promised, a suggestion which can present a significant, continued and crucially credible step on the trail in direction of addressing the pay erosion which resident docs have suffered from since 2008.
“If they’d stored to their dedication, and the trajectory in direction of pay restoration, this dispute might have been averted.
“And there’s nonetheless time to keep away from strikes – BMA Scotland resident docs stay dedicated to the deal when it’s being upheld in its entirety.”
In 2023, junior docs – as resident docs was once referred to as – in Scotland agreed to a new pay deal, and to additional talks in annually “to make credible progress on the trail in direction of pay restoration”, the union mentioned.
BMA Scotland mentioned in October that resident docs have been supplied a 4.25% uplift for 2025/26, which it mentioned broke the settlement with the Scottish authorities.
Mr Smith mentioned on the time: “We’re already 17% worse off than our friends have been in 2008 and this is able to have made that worse”.
Resident docs in England are additionally hanging, with the motion lasting till Monday. File pic: PA
The Scottish well being secretary mentioned on Friday that he was “dissatisfied” within the vote, and supplied to satisfy with Mr Smith for talks on Monday.
Neil Grey mentioned the 4.25% uplift was “a part of a two-year deal” and was “the identical as accepted by nurses and different NHS employees”.
“This implies by 2027, we may have delivered a cumulative pay rise of 35% in 4 years,” he added.
“Our prime precedence for our sufferers and the workforce is to enhance ready occasions, entry to the NHS and constructive outcomes. Industrial motion will put all that progress in danger.”
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In the meantime, resident docs’ strikes in England are set to enter their fourth day, after the BMA mentioned 83% of English members had rejected a fresh proposal from the Labour authorities.
Sir Keir Starmer referred to as the motion “irresponsible”, whereas Well being Secretary Wes Streeting accused the union of a “surprising disregard for affected person security”.
The BMA mentioned the strike was “completely avoidable” and has demanded a “credible supply” for English docs to avert “real-terms pay cuts”.
Sky Information has contacted the Scottish authorities for remark.
