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?

[theshedman]

drmorgans, similar to someone on an apprenticeship. Low money to start then it goes up after training.

[drmorgans]

A consultant will earn at least £100,000, depending on experience and specialism.

[bobbinwales]

Doc hilarious Jones on TV saying that doctors could earn more as bus drivers...".and that can't be right."
So maybe cut bus drivers pay???
We can justify any increase for everyone by finding a comparisom

[bobbinwales]

Hillary. Not Hilarious!

[theshedman]

bobbinwales, even our bus drivers in Devon earn less than the minimum doctors are said to be on so Dr Jones got it wrong again.

[MissTerious2]

Prudie, I so agree about Uni!
Nothing special about going to uni these days.

I also believe you should be paid according to your worth. In my opinion those now striking for political reasons in any profession are worth nothing!

[cashier]

It's 70% of the people polled, it can't be the country because I wasn't asked.

[fitdarren]

I'm afraid I'm not a fan of strikers at all, never have been, because it is always the general public who has to ay the price. I can't believe nearly 70% of the country support them - why?? Surely if one of their loved ones became seriously ill and needed all the medical help they could get and it wasn't available because of strikes, they would be frantic with worry? That's how I see it.

[douglas9401]

'Everybody' may go to university these days but media or art history graduates can't fix you when you're broken.
Likewise politics or archaeology.

This is one of those threads from Midsomer, innit.

[drmorgans]

Ahem, the future king and queen studied art history. Show some respect.

[Old_Geezer]

I don't have access to the experience of doctors, and little enthusiasm to go study it, but I do recall, some years back now, when I was still at work, doctors being given a massive salary increase, making me wonder why I chose tech/engineering as a career at the time. It was about the time when booking to see the doctor you registered with became less easy as they always had found something else to do instead, and locums became the inevitable visit. I'm unsure how things have supposed to deteriorated such that they are all now paid a pittance to do operations etc.. In any case the sheer size of some pay raise demands are ridiculous, especially so in present economic conditions. Is there no arbitration panel that can be called in ?

[davebro]

// art history graduates can't fix you when you're broken.//

Neither can most junior doctors to be frank!

[ToraToraTora]

there is no way 70% of the country are supporting this.

[bobbinwales]

The public generally support more pay for public sector staff like nurses Teachers doctors care workers( now they are underpaid), and also to a less extent training bus drivers.
Yet would they also support rises for lower payed staff in private cpmpanys like shop workers or drivers or bank clerks or call centre staff or cleaners or fruit pickers or waiters... you can make a case for all.maybe everyone deserves 35%. Worry later about who pays for it... either much higher tax and much higher shop or restraunt prices

[douglas9401]

Come on now, get on that front step and clap and smile when you're doing it.

[jazzyjen]

Am I the only one who thinks £14 per hour is a good figure?

Perhaps I am too old fashioned to keep up with today’s figures.

[MissTerious2]

Good point Bobbin.

[drmorgans]

I don't think "junior doctor" is a helpful term, implying they are inexperienced or untrained. They will be qualified doctors who are training for a specialism. Around 1/3rd of hospital doctors are "junior", the rest consultants. They can be in "training" (to be a consultant) for a decade or more.

[theshedman]

I sometimes think that too jazzyjen. My first take home pay for a five and a half day week was £5 and that was for the whole week.

[Old_Geezer]

The old decision, go for higher pay now, or accept lower in the expectation of it paying off in the future. Yeah "junior" is a poor choice of title.