England resident doctors to strike June 15‑19 over pay

Resident doctors in England will stage a four-day strike from June 15 to June 19 after talks with the new Health Secretary, James Murray, failed to produce a revised pay offer. The British Medical Association (BMA), which represents the doctors, announced the walkout and warned that further strikes could follow in July if no progress is made.

The announcement followed a meeting on Wednesday between union leaders and Murray, who recently replaced Wes Streeting. The BMA stated that the new health secretary had not improved upon a previous government proposal that was rejected by doctors in April, leading to a six-day strike.

Dr. Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA's resident doctors committee, expressed disappointment, saying the union had hoped for a change in approach with the new leadership. "Sadly, we have run up against the same unwillingness to move we encountered under Mr. Streeting," Fletcher said. He criticized the government's position as offering "vagueness on new jobs and no further money on the table," and stated that doctors feel they have no choice but to strike. Fletcher emphasized the union is ready to negotiate but requires a credible offer comprising concrete new...