Resident doctors’ strike undermines union movement, says Wes Streeting | Doctors

A strike by resident doctors “enormously undermines the entire trade union movement”, Wes Streeting has argued, urging them not to join industrial action on Friday morning.

In an article for the Guardian, the health secretary says the decision by the British Medical Association (BMA) to push for new strikes in England immediately after receiving a pay rise of 22% to cover 2023-24 and 2024-25 is unreasonable and unprecedented.

Taking aim squarely at the leadership of the BMA, which represents the medics formerly known as junior doctors, Streeting condemns their demand for a fresh 29% rise over the next few years. He says that while there was 90% backing for the strike, it was on a turnout of just over 55% of members.

Streeting says the move to strike after the offer of a 5.4% pay rise…