MODEL MOTION: Support the Junior Doctors strikesDont let Hunt

impose the contract

Now its time to turn sympathy into solidarity!
This union branch / region / executive notes:
1) The widespread outrage across the trade union movement and beyond at Tory health
secretary Jeremy Hunts announcement on 11 February that he will impose a dangerous new
contract for junior doctors in August this year.
2) That this contract, as the British Medical Association (BMA) has rightly stated, is not safe
and not fair.
3) The huge mandate that the BMA has for strikes following the incredible 98 percent vote
by junior doctors, the impressive turnout on picket lines during the first two strikes in
January and February, and the magnificent support from the wider public for the strikes
despite a vicious smear campaign of lies driven by Hunt and the Tories.
4) The resulting widespread mood amongst many who want to defend our NHS that there is
now no confidence in the health secretary and that Hunt must go.
5) That the BMA has called an escalation of strikes, with three 48 hour strikes planned for 9
& 10 March, 6 & 7 April and 26 & 27 April.

This union branch / region / executive believes:

1) That the imposition is not only a threat to junior doctors but to the whole of the NHS and
to all trade unionists. If negotiation is pushed aside then the essential basis of unions is
forfeited. It is also no coincidence that Hunt announced the imposition amidst a TUC Heart
Unions week of action against the Tory Trade Union Billa major attack on our right to strike
and organise in unions.
2) If Hunt gets away with this, the same tactics may well be used to force through the
abolition of unsocial hours payments throughout the NHS and other cost-slashing measures
across the public sector.
3) That this is a time for urgent solidarity and action. We all must stand together with the
junior doctors.

This union branch / region / executive resolves:

1) To call on Hunt to withdraw the imposition and listen to the BMA.
2) To give full solidarity to the BMAby joining the nearest hospital picket line on the next
strike day in large numbers, and to deliver there and send messages of support to
chair@bma.org.uk or on Twitter @TheBMA

3) To support initiatives from the BMA and defend junior doctors from the attacks by the
Tories and sections of the media.
4) To support cross-union local solidarity initiatives, such as Junior Doctors Support Groups
and similar initiatives that aim to pull together the trade union movement to get behind the
junior doctors fight and turn the widespread sympathy for their strikes into real, active
solidarity.
5) We encourage the TUC to, in conjunction with the BMA, call a national demonstration in
supporting the doctors.
6) To invite a junior doctor to our next meeting and discuss how solidarity can be delivered.