Isle of Man doctors announce dates of first strike in island’s history

Isle of Man: Big news is brewing as doctors on the Isle of Man are gearing up for their first-ever strike. This is a huge deal for the island’s healthcare scene.

They’re pushing for a 12.6% pay raise for the 2023/24 year to help them catch up with their colleagues on the mainland. But the government has only offered a 6% increase this year and 4% next year, which just isn’t cutting it.

The strike is set for January 22 and 23, and during this time, doctors will be working under ‘Christmas Day cover’. So, they’ll be available for emergencies, but a lot of non-urgent services will be on hold.

Starting at 7am on January 22 and wrapping up at 7am on January 24, this action is a big step for the doctors. They’ve faced pay cuts of up to 19% since 2008, while inflation has shot up by over 56% during that time.

In December, a whopping 95% of doctors voted for this strike, showing just how fed up they are. Dr. Prakash Thiagarajan, who leads the Isle of Man Medical Society, expressed his disappointment, saying they really didn’t want to strike but felt they had no choice.

He mentioned that there’s still a chance for the government to step up with a better offer to avoid the strike. Doctors just want fair pay for the hard work they do, especially after years of cuts.

The British Medical Association (BMA) is also calling for quick action to resolve this issue. Prof. Phil Banfield, the BMA Chair, is backing the doctors and understands how tough this decision was for them.

He hopes Manx Care realizes how serious this situation is and comes up with a solid pay offer that respects the doctors’ expertise and contributions to the island’s health.