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Deal shows contract is still Not Safe Not Fair for our NHS...

REJECT THE DEAL: STRIKES

CAN DEFEAT WEAK TORIES
T

HE BMA ROADSHOW OF 120

junior doctor meetings is a vital
space to discuss the contract
that emerged from talks with Hunt. The
JDC is divided over whether to accept
or reject. Its good to see a section of
the JDC providing a lead, now openly
arguing for a reject vote in the coming
referendum, running 17 June - 01 July.
The Tories have certainly shifted under
pressure from the strikes. That is a credit
to the strength of fight put up by junior
doctors. Yet its clear that the contract will
still be fundamentally unsafe and unfair,
and absolutely toxic for our NHS.
This deal abolishes the weekend,
reduces night shift pay from 50 percent to
37 percent and has less robust safeguards.
It would mean any junior doctor
working less than one weekend in eight
would only be paid normal pay rates.
Those working regular weekends
from more than one in seven weekends
to one in two weekends will receive
between 3 and 10 percent.
Those with carer responsibilities will
still be disproportionately affected in this
dealmeaning it remains a sexist contract.
The Tories claim the contract is costneutral, underlining the fact that it will
squeeze more from junior doctors for less,
creating dangerous working conditions.
This dispute is not about the money, as
BMA has rightly said all along. Its about
protecting safe conditions for NHS staff.

Reject

The BMA will run a referendum on the

deal from 17 June to 1 July, with results
announced 6 July.
This leaves a long gap waiting in what is
a short time frame. The contract imposition
date of early August looms ever nearer.
Given the widespread concern among
junior doctorsand the potential for the
momentum built up in the recent strikes to
dissipateits vital junior doctors organise
now to reject the deal.
The only reason Hunt crawled back to
the table is that junior doctors are winning.
Public opinion is behind this fight, with
support increasing for the full walk out.
The Tories have been exposed over their
attacks on the NHS.

Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell join thousands on junior doctor strike march

And theyve been exposed over their

readiness to lie and demonise the doctors.
But they havent got away with itjunior
doctors have stressed this is a fight for the
NHS. The Tories are weak, and deeply
divided over the question of the EU. They
have made a series of U-turns showing that
they can be beaten.
Now is the time to be bold, rally
widespread public support, and take the
Tories on. Workers in France are showing
the power our unions have if they fight.

The NUT is pressing ahead with its

ballot, recognising that while Morgans
retreat is a step forward, there is still more
to fight for.
In the BMA, junior doctors should get
organised to reject the deal, and mobilise
all that solidarity that emerged through the
strikes, get the action back on, and escalate
strikes to kick out Hunt and his contract and
defend our NHS.

Organised

If junior doctors organised to build a big

vote to reject the deal, and the BMA called
hard hitting action quicklysuch as an
extended strike in Julythen the Tories can
be forced back.
More strikes can escalate the political
crisis for the Tories, force them to retreat
quickly, and stop this contract.
Junior doctors are not alone. Already
the planned teachers strikes helped
education secretary Nicky Morgan find her
reverse gear and backtrack on the forced
academisation of every school in England.

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