1.1.3 – Pressure groups and other influences
It was announced by the British Medical Association (BMA) last week that that resident doctors (formerly referred to as ‘junior doctors’) will stage a five-day strike beginning on 17 December.
The announcement came after further negotiations with the government failed to achieve their aim of an increase to their pay, which the BMA say is only 80% of the rate in 2008 once inflation has been factored in. This strike will be the fourteenth by the BMA since 2023.
With their mandate for strike action due to run out in January, the union have already announced its intention to ballot members again.
The BMA, as a trade union, are an important example of a sectional pressure group. Given the typical background and nature of its members, industrial action of this sort might be considered unusual. However, the long-running saga over pay has seen walkouts become a common feature under both governments in recent years.
The fact that the BMA have not been able to find common ground with the Labour government (with the health secretary, Wes Streeting, reportedly refusing to consider further pay rises) demonstrates that having a government more ideologically aligned to its aims is not the sole factor that will help pressure groups achieve its aims.
Whilst the government may be sympathetic to the plight of the BMA (which they blame on the previous Conservative government), it is also aware that granting pay rises to a group who are widely considered to be well paid already will likely lead to further demands for pay rises in other sectors.