The Know Daily - Thursday 13 July 2023

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The world’s first living coral biobank - dedicated to preserving the Great Barrier Reef and other reefs globally - has opened to the public at Cairns Aquarium, Australia. The project aims to collect all 400 species of Great Barrier Reef corals, making tissue samples available for reef research and restoration efforts.

🪧 A record walkout

Junior doctors across England began a five-day strike this morning, marking the longest industrial action of its kind in the history of the NHS.

What’s the story?
The British Medical Association (BMA) union said that junior doctors’ pay has been cut by 26% in real terms since 2008-09, and is calling for a 35% pay rise to make up the shortfall.

Health secretary Steve Barclay has said that although he considers a 35% increase to be unreasonable, a pay rise over 5% would be offered if negotiations were to resume.

Junior doctors are qualified in clinical training and can have “up to nine years of working as a hospital doctor”, explained The Guardian.

What else is happening in hospitals?
Action by junior doctors is set to end on 18 July. Shortly after that, hospital consultants are planning to strike on 20 and 21 July to demand the end of continual pay erosion.

“Consultants will be providing what is being described as ‘Christmas Day cover’”, said the BBC. “Emergency care will be provided, along with a very limited amount of routine work.”

Is there anything else I should know?
Yesterday, teachers at the NASUWT union voted in favour of strike action in a dispute over pay and conditions. Almost 90% of members voted in favour, with a turnout of 51.9% - passing the 50% threshold required by law. NASUWT has said it will now consider strike dates for the autumn term.

Here’s a handy guide to all the strikes confirmed for the rest of July, including those affecting the railways.

Have you voted for strike action or are you going on strike soon? We’d love to hear from you - hit reply to let us know.