In Europe, protests continue, with resident doctors from the BMA walking out on a strike lasting nearly a week, meanwhile Dublin has “come to a standstill” during a protest against rising fuel prices. Simultaneously, the Belgian trade union CSC announced a protest on 12 May over rising prices and low purchasing power.
Resident doctors’ strike in the United Kingdom
Tens of thousands of doctors across England have walked off the job since yesterday as part of an ongoing six-day strike over pay issues. Healthcare workers began their strike at 7 a.m. on 7 April after talks between the government and their British Medical Association (BMA) committee broke down. The strike will last until Monday 13 April, with significant disruption to the health service expected.
Pay for junior doctors, who make up almost half of the NHS workforce, has been a long-standing dispute, and this is the 15th strike since 2023. Most recently, the government offered a 4.9% increase in the average basic salary for the period 2026–2027, and Health Secretary Wes Stritting told the chair of the BMA’s junior doctors’ committee that the figure would be fair.
According to Stritting, the strike would leave resident doctors 35.2% better off than four years ago as he called the strike “frustrating” and told ITV News’ Good Morning Britain, “The tragedy of all of this is that when the doctors go out on strike, they set back the progress that together we are making.”
In addition, the government has backtracked on its offer of 1,000 additional training places, stating that this is no longer feasible “financially or operationally.”
Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA’s resident doctors committee, said the Government “quietly watered down” the deal on offer to resident doctors. “Resident doctors are as keen as he is to bring an end to the strikes, but his government needs to put an offer on the table that we can accept and which doesn’t change at the last minute,” he said.
Streeting denied the government had moved the goalposts, saying, “In fact, I met with Jack Fletcher and his officers last Friday (Good Friday), and I asked him directly, ‘What would it take for you to call off these strikes? What is your counteroffer to the one that is on the table? And he couldn’t answer. They have not put any counterproposals to us.”
As for patient appointments, the National Health Service has stated that it will maintain as much pre-booked care as possible, and patients are strongly advised to continue attending their appointments unless they have been contacted and told otherwise. It added that A&E and emergency services will operate as normal, and senior doctors will be called upon to provide cover where possible.
The next ballot for consultants, as well as specialists, junior specialists and specialist assignees (SAS), will run from 11 May to 6 July.
Fuel price protests in Dublin
Meanwhile, a convoy of tractors and lorries gathered in Dublin on Monday to call for urgent action on fuel prices. The protesters said the rising costs were unsustainable for them. During the protest, slow-moving convoys caused disruption on Irish roads across the country as they made their way to the capital.
Among the protesters’ demands are a cap on green and white diesel and a reduction in carbon tax. Farmers and hauliers have stressed that they are not targeting passengers or bus and rail services, and that their protest is focused on stopping fuel supplies from entering the city.
The Journal shared comments from some protesters, with one stating the protest would not end until they heard some statements from Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien or Finance Minister Simon Harris. A farming contractor said that fuel costs for him had risen by 50% and that it was “impossible” to keep his tractor topped up.
The convoys were organised by local activists protesting against the prices of diesel, petrol and domestic heating oil, driven by the ongoing war in the Middle East. The mass protests are not officially supported by the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA), but have the backing of Sinn Féin, Independent Ireland and An Fianna.
Ahead of a meeting to discuss fuel supplies, the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the minister responsible for logistics stated that the ongoing protests were simply “wrong.”
Micheal Martin said it was unacceptable to threaten to turn O’Connell Street into a car park, stating the convoys were affecting people with businesses. Minister Sean Kenny said that the protests were holding the country to ransom at a time when people should be working together. The Tánaiste said there were sufficient fuel supplies in the country, and even if there were some minor issues, they would be dealt with under the law of the land without fear or favour. Simon Harris, for his part, said he was expecting fuel prices to fall soon, and that the ceasefire agreed last night between Iran and the US had prevented a more difficult conversation this morning.
As a result of industrial action, there are delays to public transport in Dublin, and fuel depots in Galway and Limerick have been blockaded. Several cars were left overnight on roads in central Dublin, and protests resumed this morning, with protesters blocking O’Connell Bridge as well as the North and South Quays.
The Belgian trade union CSC also has called for a demonstration on 12 May, citing soaring energy prices and falling purchasing power. The union said, “in response to unfair reforms and attacks on wages and pensions, the unions are taking action.”
