A dangerous precedent for “bumper pay rises” has been set by the Government's decision to cave in to militant junior doctors at huge cost, the Shadow Health Secretary has warned. Members of the British Medical Association (BMA) sparked fury on Tuesday when they threatened to call further strikes despite accepting a 22% pay deal . Union leaders insisted the “journey is not over” as they turned their attention to further uplifts to restore pay to 2008 levels.
Shadow Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said: “Having settled deals with consultants and with specialty doctors before the election, I am pleased for the sake of patients that junior doctors have finally accepted a deal. “The threats by the Junior Doctors’ Committee to continue striking next year, however, show the price this Labour Government has paid: an inflation-busting pay rise with no requirement for improving productivity, increasing value for taxpayers or even future-proofing against more strikes.” READ MORE: Robert Jenrick blasts Keir Starmer for 'declaring war' on pensioners Hinting that workers in other fields will be emboldened by the deal, Ms Atkins added: “Labour has set the precedent that they will reward strikes with bumper pay rises at the expense of some of the most vulnerable in our society, through their cuts to winter fuel payments .
” The BMA announced on Monday that members had voted 66% in favour of accepting the Government’s pay offer. The vote signalled an end to 22 months of .