Thousands of junior doctors in Wales begin 3rd round of strike action over pay cut

By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) - Thousands of junior doctors across Wales began their third round of strike action, spanning 96 hours from Monday to Friday.

This strike marks the longest yet in their ongoing dispute over what the British Medical Association (BMA) says a pay cut of 29.6% in real terms since 2008-9.

More than 3,000 doctors with up to 11 years of experience since graduating from medical school are withholding their services from hospitals and GP surgeries across Wales.

In December, an overwhelming 98% of junior doctors voted in favor of industrial action to demand pay restoration.

This ongoing campaign seeks to rectify the drastic erosion of their pay over the past decade.

The decision to undertake this latest round of strike action follows the rejection of a below-inflation pay offer of 5% by the Welsh government.

This offer was deemed inadequate, falling short of recommendations by the Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration Review Body (DDRB) and standing as the lowest offer across the UK.

Doctors Babs-Osibodu and Peter Fahey, co-chairs of BMA Cymru Wales’ Junior Doctors Committee, expressed disappointment at the situation. They emphasized that while they do not wish to resort to strikes, the lack of meaningful action has left them with no alternative.

"It’s extremely sad and frustrating that we find ourselves here again, our third strike and our longest yet. We don’t want to be in this position but again, faced with inaction, we are left with no choice," they said.

"Junior doctors are starting their careers earning £13.65 ($17.25) an hour in Wales. Is that all they are worth? They are providing lifesaving care after training for years and are shouldering up to £100,000 of debt," the co-chairs added.

"We will continue our fight for fair pay for all doctors working in the NHS. It is no surprise that we are losing doctors as they search for better pay and conditions elsewhere. Losing our doctors at a time when waiting lists are at record highs will mean patients suffering more than they are already," they concluded.