Militant doctors’ union tells activists to hold pizza nights to drum up strike support
MILITANT junior doctors have secretly admitted some members are reluctant to go back on strike.
And they are telling activists to host “pizza” parties to drum up support for a fresh round of walkouts.
Junior doctors, now called residents, are set to strike again despite a 22 per cent pay rise last year.
British Medical Association chiefs will ballot thousands of their members later this month.
But a document for activists walking around wards gives them tips on how to persuade reluctant colleagues to strike.
It includes combating comments like: “We have lost momentum after the last strikes.”
And: “There is no money in the Treasury for more of anything in the UK, we shouldn’t be asking for more.”
Another says: “My registrars and consultants are anti-strike. They think the first strikes were good but now we’re being greedy.”
A separate document outlining their strategy tells union reps to run events like “pizza and pay meetings, to re-engage those who may have stepped back from striking”.
Mike Wood, shadow Cabinet Office minister, said: “If Labour really wanted to put country before party they would stand up to them, but I’m not holding my breath.”
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A deal with the new Labour Government last year ended 18 months of strike misery which led to millions of cancelled appointments.
Newly qualified doctors saw their pay increase from £29,400 to £36,600 in the first year and from £58,400 to £70,400 in the final year of training.
The BMA were approached for comment.