Pay restoration
The past year has been incredibly challenging, at the start of 2024 we had no choice but to take industrial action to reach a credible settlement for our hard work and I am proud to have been able to have changed the trajectory for hard-working resident doctors in Wales.
While we still have some way to go to finally restore the pay lost by years of real-terms pay cuts we have made positive strides towards full pay restoration. It’s not just about being remunerated, it is about being respected and valued for our work.
Our contract
The next step for achieving a better deal for resident doctors in Wales is reforming our outdated contract. We are re-entering talks with the Welsh Government on a new contract and we need your input.
As part of the recent pay deal, the BMA Welsh resident doctors committee agreed to re-enter contract negotiations with the Welsh Government in late 2024 with the ambition of reaching an agreement that would be put to members for implementation in 2025/26.
During talks, WRDC negotiators made clear that any renegotiation of the rejected contract proposal of 2022 must deal with the significant concerns regarding the pay systems and working hours that members raised and include appropriate investment.
Before we begin, it’s crucial that we hear from you. Your views will inform our negotiations.
We know that the current contract is out of date and needs reform. It no longer works for resident doctors: it doesn’t provide the protections we need, nor the modern working arrangements and training guarantees we deserve.
You made it clear that the reformed contract that we proposed in 2022 wasn’t good enough. After it was rejected, we took the time to listen to your feedback on what you liked and disliked about the proposals. Now, two years on, we need to know what you want from a new contract and how we solve the outstanding issues.
Since we stood up for pay, we’re now a bigger and stronger union, now it’s time to use that momentum and secure a fairer contract.
Make sure you have your say by completing the contract reform survey by 23rd December, we’ll also be hosting a virtual workshop on Wednesday 11 December to help inform you and give you an opportunity to have your say.