Here’s where it gets silly. The ballot paper asks doctors if they’re willing to take "industrial action short of a strike." That means they might refuse to do paperwork or wear ties. Yes, ties are a sticking point.
Imagine a doctor saying: "I won’t treat your broken leg until you fix my pay. Also, I’m wearing Crocs today." It’s both funny and weirdly passive-aggressive.
Resident doctors in England start receiving ballots for industrial
But also, strikes in the NHS are rare. This is the first time junior doctors have balloted since 1975. That’s the year Jaws came out in cinemas. So, it’s a big deal—like a shark attack on the health service.
The Ridiculous Irony
Here’s the punchline: doctors are being asked to strike to save the NHS. If they don’t get paid better, they’ll quit. If they quit, the NHS collapses. If the NHS collapses, we all get sick.
So, a strike might actually be the weirdest form of public service. It’s like firefighters refusing to put out fires until you buy them a better hose. Crazy, but logical.
And the government? They’re offering a 5% pay rise. Doctors want 35%. That’s a gap wider than a hospital waiting room on a Monday morning.
