Junior doctors in Wales given further time to continue pay negotiations

Junior doctors in Wales are being given further time to decide whether to strike again or not.

The British Medical Association says it's pleased employers have agreed to an extension to pay negotiations until the 17th of September.

Co-chairs of the Welsh Junior Doctor Committee Dr Oba Babs-Osibodu and Dr Peter Fahey said of this development:

“We are pleased to be able to secure an extension to our overwhelming strike mandate. Whilst we hope to put an end to our pay dispute through pay negotiations by reaching a credible deal and restoring our pay, it was important to secure more time for our mandate.

“The extension allows us to focus on talks but also provides us with the scope to get organised and enact our legal right to strike should we need to. This is about honouring the emphatic mandate of our members.

“Doctors have experienced real terms pay cut of almost a third since 2008. They voted overwhelmingly to put an end to the devaluing of their service, they know they are not worth a third less than their predecessors and they know the time is now to stick up for the profession and turn the tide of the continued erosion of their pay once and for all”.

The Welsh Government says it understands the strength of feeling among union members.

A spokesperson said:

“We recognise the strength of feeling among BMA members and that industrial action is never taken lightly.

“This is a government that listens and engages to find solutions and we are committed to working in social partnership with the BMA and NHS employers to ending the current junior doctor, consultant and SAS doctor disputes.

“Employers extending the strike mandate and unions suspending the industrial action both build trust in that partnership.

“We won’t be providing a running commentary while negotiations take place.”

You can hear all the latest UK news on the hour, every hour.