Junior doctors in Scotland to strike after rejecting latest pay offer
Three days of industrial action are set to take place in July
Junior doctors in Scotland have voted to reject a Scottish Government pay offer and set strike dates for next month, BMA Scotland has announced.
The body said on Tuesday 71.1% of those who voted on a 66.3% turnout rejected the deal - with strike dates now set for July 12 to July 15.
The Scottish Government offered a 14.5% pay increase over two years last month and has now called for an urgent meeting between Health Secretary Michael Matheson and the junior doctors.
"Our membership has once again spoken decisively and clearly.
"It is beyond doubt that they do not consider this offer sufficient to begin the process of addressing the pay erosion we have suffered since 2008 - when pay for a junior doctor was some 28.5% higher," Dr Chris Smith, the chairman of the BMA's Scottish junior doctor committee, said.
"That is why today we can confirm that we are now forced to act on the incredibly strong mandate given to us by members in our preceding strike ballot and announce a full withdrawal of labour for three days from Wednesday July 12."
Dr Smith said the action was being taken reluctantly and the gap between the announcement and the walkouts would provide the health service with enough time to put a plan in place to deal with disruption and for the Government to improve its offer.