Junior Doctor Strike - Good For Them??

[Prudie]

I'm open to be educated here but doctors on strike today and asking for a 35% pay increase. My question is really that nearly 70% of the country are supporting their action. Why is it so popular. Is it because we think they deserve such an increase or is it partly to support any group that helps to topple the government?

[davebro]

They know what uni costs, they know what salary to expect, why go into it if they think the financial reward isn't enough to compensate for their desire to help the sick?

[choux]

I must say I don't trust the % in this "poll". I am wondering how many of who ever were polled, and their nearest and dearest, are awaiting operations/treatment? Not many I suggest. I am sure some patients may die as a result of extended waiting lists but (just as was the case of Covid) I expect stats will be manipulated.

In my wildest dreams I will never understand why any employees of the NHS should believe they deserve to be singled out from the rest of the country and not have to tighten their belts.

[naomi24]

The result of the poll probably reflects the question asked and, reported as it is, could he highly misleading.

‘Do you think doctors should be paid more?’ Possibly 70% would say yes.

‘Do you think doctors should ask for 35% and strike for four days?’ I doubt many would say yes to that.

[choux]

Prudie's OP included "...that nearly 70% of the country are supporting their action." Ergo those polled would have understood drs were striking.

[Prudie]

Bearing in mind I only heard the figure as reported in ITV's good morning programme today. It seemed to increase as time went by plus footage of passing cars hooting at picket lines taken to mean support.

[choux]

Prudie, I do not disbelieve you.

[davebro]

If I was passing picket lines I wouldn't be hooting I'd be winding down my window & telling them to get the *** back to work!

[Ryzen]

The cost of living is going up and the chance of living is going down..:-)

[MissTerious2]

I'd feel the same Dave50. I think most would. I think Ryzen is correct. The are going to be responsible was a lot of heartache. Have they no conscience?!

[naomi24]

I heard, and read, the same figure, Prudie. I just have my doubts that those asked realised exactly what action the doctors would be taking.

[douglas9401]

Hanging's too good for 'em, etc.

[MissTerious2]

'For',not 'was'!

[drmorgans]

This is an interesting piece about the difficulty of training and retaining doctors:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-65167520

[Untitled]

medical degrees are much longer than normal degrees and some people go on to take postgraduate specialisms

it is all very well to say that they have a choice but unlike some highly-paid professions junior doctors are a job that society cannot do without... somebody HAS to take the job on and those that do are entitled to be compensated decently for their work

[naomi24]

Everyone is entitled to be compensated decently for their work. That doesn't, however, entitle anyone to take the 'p' - and asking for 35% is taking the 'p'.

[Untitled]

It's what they were being paid until 15 years ago... their earnings have dropped significantly since then especially after 2010

[Zacs-Master]

'The BMA says that junior doctors’ pay in England has fallen by 26 per cent since 2008/09, once you account for inflation.

But the independent Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) think tank says a more accurate figure would be an 11 to 16 per cent fall since 2010.'

https://www.channel4.com/news/factcheck/factcheck-how-much-has-junior-doctors-pay-fallen-and-what-pay-rise-do-they-want

[Untitled]

from the same link:

"The BMA is asking for a 35 per cent pay rise. FactCheck understands that this figure was decided because 35 per cent is what would be needed to make up for what the BMA claims is a 26.1 per cent loss in earnings since 2009.

You might be thinking: why do you need a 35 per cent rise to make up for a 26 per cent fall? The answer is best explained with an example. Imagine you have £100 in your bank account, and it’s reduced by 26.1 per cent. Now you’ve got £73.90. In order to return to £100, you need another £26.10, which is 35 per cent of £73.90."

[THECORBYLOON]

Using different indices and periods for comparisons is not helpful.

[Prudie]

^ Do you realise that is the same for the vast majority of the working population? All I really gather from the support on here is junior doctors are special and worth more than the rest of us - which may be the case although I'm not feeling it.