Junior doctors strikes axed following ‘record’ pay offer

Scotland’s British Medical Association (BMA) members have accepted a 12.4% pay offer bringing an end to any future industrial action.

Yesterday junior doctors in Scotland voted to accept a record breaking 12.4% pay increase for 2023/24 which has been awarded in addition to the 4.5% rise given in 2022/23, meaning the medics will overall receive a total pay increase on 17% over two years.

This announcement has come after members of union HCSA Scotland, which represents hospital doctors, voted on Tuesday to accept the Scottish government’s offer.

Overall, the deal will cost Holyrood over £60m and is said to be the largest offer given within the last two decades and has been described as ‘the best offer in the UK’.

The result of the consultative vote of BMA Scotland members saw 81.64% vote in favour of the offer with a turnout of 71.24%.

Health Secretary, Michael Matheson, said: ‘I am very pleased that BMA members have overwhelmingly voted to accept this record pay deal for junior doctors.

‘This is the single biggest investment in junior doctor pay since devolution, and maintains our commitment to make Scotland the best place in the UK for junior doctors to work and train.

BMA members have overwhelmingly voted to accept a record 12.4% pay increase for junior doctors and dentists in training for 2023–24. The agreement will see the largest investment in Junior Doctor pay in 20 years.
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— Scot Gov Health (@scotgovhealth) August 16, 2023

‘Due to the meaningful engagement we have had with trade unions, we have avoided any industrial action in Scotland – only the part of the UK to avoid NHS strikes.

‘We will now implement this pay uplift, and will work with the BMA to take forward the other aspects of the deal including contract and pay bargaining reform.’

Against this backdrop, other countries within the UK have failed to follow suit. Junior doctors in England have just finished a four-day walkout, which came to an end on Tuesday, over pay disputes with the government.

In July the government in England made what it described as a ‘final offer’ of a 6% pay increase for the health professionals and an extra £1250 consolidated payment for 2023/24.

However, junior doctors firmly rejected this offer and vowed to continue striking until the government was prepared to discuss worthy pay increases.

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