HCSA’s Executive has approved a new strategy on pay following the outcome of an indicative ballot of members in England.
The result of the July ballot saw 31 percent of eligible members support some form of industrial action (strike action or action short of a strike) on a turnout of 42 percent.
That compares with the legal bar placed on HCSA under industrial legislation of support from 40 percent of eligible membership and a 50 percent minimum turnout. As a result, the Executive has decided not to move to a formal postal ballot of members.
However, it has agreed an alternative strategy.
President Dr Claudia Paoloni said: “This result displays significant support for action and reflects deep anger among many hospital doctors at the government’s dismissive approach to medical pay.
“However, the legal bar erected in front of health unions by the government in order to take industrial action of any sort - even working to rule - is also intentionally high.
“These sentiments cannot and will not be brushed away by HCSA. We have no intention of simply moving on over pay.”
HCSA has announced a new strategy on medical pay to redress the impact of 10 years of wage restraint:
- Campaign for reform of the DDRB pay review body
- Build an alliance for a full review of remuneration in the NHS
- Seek justice for Junior Doctors left behind due to their four-year fixed pay deal.
It has also announced the launch of a new organising strategy to build a stronger HCSA at national and local level.
Registration is now open for the first Activist Training Pathway sessions in the New Year.
Explaining the launch, Dr Paoloni said: “Over the decades the erosion of medical influence over the NHS has seen our profession go from resistance to resignation, in some cases quite literally.
“If we are to exert influence over the factors which impact so greatly on our hospital doctors, it is essential that we build a strong voice that is deeply grounded in the hospitals in which we work.”
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